LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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APR 13 15!>5 



A THOUGHT 



FOB 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 



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A THOUGHT 



FOR 



EiCH MI OF THE Ml 



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B^ 



P. MAEIN DB :60YLESVE, S.J. 



TRANSLATED FROM TEE FRENCH. 




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PEEFAOE. 



Many Catholics abstain from medi- 
tating upon the truths of religion, 
under the plea that they have no time 
to spare. 

Books of meditation abound, but 
the subjects are too much developed ; 
and they say they have only a few- 
moments at their disposal after morn- 
ing prayer. 

It is proposed to offer a reading 
the length of v^hich can frighten no 
one. One or two moments will suflSce 
to read the subject, less than a quarter 
of an hour's reflection wall bring it 
home. 

Each day's reading will consist of a 



VI PREFACE. 

text from the Gospel of the Sunday, a 
thought upon the text, a prayer in- 
spired by that thought, and a practical 
resolution. 

Some of the reflections and resolu- 
tions are often repeated because they 
are repeated in the Gospels, and are 
so essential that they cannot be dwelt 
upon too often. 



O O 1^ T E ]SrT s . 



PASE 

Septuagesima Snnday ix 

Sexagesima SuDciav 5 

Quinquagesima Sunday — 13 

SSLmten STitie^ 

First Sunday in Lent 30 

Secon I ^uuday in Lent 27 

Third Suridny in Lent . . 34 

Fourth. SUi- day in Lent 41 

Jpassion STitie* 

Passion Sunday 48 

Palm Sunday 55 

3PascJ)al STitie* 

Easter Sunday 63 

First Sunday aft-r Easter 70 

Second Sunday after Easter 77 

Third Sundav alter E ster 84 

Fourth Su! day af er Easter 90 

Fifth Suraay after Easrer 96 

Ascens on Day 103 

Sunday within the Ociave of the Ascension 109 

JPentccoiSft* 

Pentecost Sunday 120 

Trinity Suuday 127 

Corpus Chrsti 131 

Second Suuday after Pentecost 134 

Feast of tue Sacred Heart 138 

Third Sunday after Pentecost 140 

vii 



Vlll CONTENTS, 



PAGE 

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 146 

Fifth Sunday after Penteco>t 153 

Sixth Sunday alicr Pentecost 159 

Seventh Sunday a ter Pentec )-t 165 

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost 171 

Ninth Suuday after Pentecost 178 

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost 184 

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost. 191 

Twelfth Sunday auer Pentecost 198 

Thii teenth Suuday after P<-ntecost 2l5 

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost 212 

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentt cost 218 

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost 225 

Seventeenth Sunday arter Pentec )-t 232 

Eighteenth Suiidny after Pentecost ..... 239 

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost 246 

Twentieth Sunday after Pei.tecost 252 

Twenty-fi'Pt Sundny after Pentecost 258 

Twenty-secoid Sunday after Pvnrecost 265 

Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost 272 

Twenty-fourth Sunday afier Pentecost 279 

First Sunday of Advent 285 

Second Sunday of Advent 295 

Third Sunday of Advent 3"4 

Fourth fcunday of Advent 313 

€:j)tistmas Einu, 

Christmas Day 321 

Sunday a^iei- Cnrist mas Day 3^30 

Sunday a ler tLe Circumcision 338 

Tae Epiphany 346 

Sunday within the Octave of ihe Epiphany :. 3 4 

Second Sunday aftet'The Epiphany 361 

Third Sunday after the Epu hany 367 

Fourth Sunday nfierihe Kpiphany 374 

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphai y 381 

Sixf h Sunday alter the Epiphany 387 



A THOUGHT 



FOR 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 



.Sejjtuagejstma SunTiag. 

" The kingdom of heaven is like to a householder, who 
went out early in the morning to hire laborers in- 
to his vineyard.'*— ;S'^. Matthew xx. 1. 

Thought, — From the earliest days of 
my childhood, as soon as ever I came 
to the use of reason, God through His 
grace invited me to cultivate His vine 
— that is, to take care of the natural 
faculties and supernatural gifts con- 
fided to me on the day of my baptism. 
Hov^ have I answered this call ? 

Prayer, — Jesus, how much glory 
should I not have rendered to Thee, 
and how much merit should I not 
have acquired, if from the day when 
reason first dawned I had devoted all 
my strength, every grace I have re- 
ceived, every minute of my life, to 
Thy service. Oh ! irreparable loss. 

Practice. — Do not delay till ''to- 



X A THOUGHT FOR 

morrow," but reply at once to the call 
of divine grace. 

Monday. 

*' And having agreed with them for a penny a day, he 
Bent them into his vineyard. ''—St, Matthew xx. 3. 

Thought, — The day represents life, 
and payment is heaven, which is the 
possession of God for all eternity. 
The vine is the Church. We should 
spend our whole life in cultivating it — 
that is, in spreading about the know- 
ledge and love of God, and in sancti- 
fying and saving souls. Time spent 
otherwise is lost for all eterniiy. 

jPr^y^/'.— Jesus, I make Tiiee an 
offering of all my thoughts, desires, 
words, and deeds. 

Pi^actice, — Work for Jesus, and He 
shall be your reward. 

Tuesday. 

** And going out about the third hour he pew others 
standing in the market-place idle/'— aS'^. Matthew 
XX. 3. 

Thought, — The market-place repre- 
sents the world. There one sees 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. XI 

men, who move about, and come and 
go, but yet do nothing. This one 
bestirs himself to gain a little money, 
that one is desirous of acquiring fame, 
a third rushes in pursuit of pleasure, 
which like a phantom escapes his 
grasp even when he thinks to hold it. 

Prayer. — Jesus, the day of my life 
is far advanced, yet I am still in the 
market-place, looking on at what is 
taking place, listening to what is said, 
but taking no active part myself. 
Come to me, O Jesus ! and speak to 
me. Another call from Thee will, 
perhaps, be more efficacious. 

Practice. — Avoid sloth, and, what 
is a great deal worse, slothful activity, 
which, on account of its very decep- 
tiveness, should be shunned and fear- 
ed. 

Wednesday. 

** Go you also into ray vineyard."— >S'^. Matthew xx. 4. 

Thought. — Tins vine, as 1 said be- 
fore, is the Church. Do not waste 



I, 



mi A THOUGHT FOR 

your intelligence, your energies, your 
time, or your fortune in this market- 
place, so truly typical of that world 
which neither pays nor gives back 
what is lent — of that world ever un- 
grateful, ever forgetful of favors re- 
ceived ; rather consecrate yourself en- 
tirely to the service of the Church. 
You will be rewarded in proportion 
to your devotion to its interests. 

Prayer, — Jesus, employ me in 
Thy vineyard. Grant me the only 
favor that I ask of Thee, viz., to work 
in thy service. 

Practice, ^ — Pray for the Church of 
Jesus Christ. Work in its service, 
and sufier for it, 

Thuksday. 

*' Why stand you here all t.hf day idle ? ''—St. Matthew 
XX. 6. 

Thought. — Do not allow your 
whole life to pass in idleness. Do 
not be always on the point of making 
a start, of doing something, and yet 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. XIU 

fulfilling nothing. It is not the in- 
tention, but the action, that is re- 
quired of you. Take a resolution and 
keep it — work. All the evils of 
society owe their origin to the lovers 
of idleness. Idleness lulls to sleep 
the minds of the good, and strength- 
ens the minds of the wicked to com- 
mit evil with impunity and success. 

Prayer, — Jesas, give me great 
strength of will. Tell me what Thou 
wouldst have me to do, and give me 
strength and will to accomplish it. 

Practice, — Do your duty, and cease 
to think of what you ought to be 
doing, yet never do, 

Friday. 

" Is it not lawftil for me to do as I will V—St. Mat- 
thew XX. 15. 

Thought. — God is master of His 
gifts. If it pleases Him to give to 
others the same graces, or even more 
graces, than those which He thinks fit 
to bestow on me, after having given me 



XIV A THOUGHT FOR 

what he promised, what right have 
I to complain or murmur? Besides, 
if I receive less than this or that 
person, have I not received more 
than many others? In any case, I 
have received a great deal more 
than I deserved, since in the begin- 
ning I was nothing^ and therefore 
deserved nothing. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I admire Thee in 
others as well as in myself, and thus 
partaking of otliers' joy as well as of 
my own, I shall be doubly happy. 
My happiness will increase according 
to the number of those who are 
happy like myself, and according to 
their degree of happiness. 

Practice. — Despise jealousy in 
yourself, as you despise it in others. 

Saturday. 

"So shall the last he first, and the first last."— ^S^i?. 
Matthew xx. 16. 

Thought. — When it is the ques- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAB. XV 

tion of serving God, never say, Oh ! 
it is too late. If yon have an 
hour to live, you can do as much 
to serve God and deserve heaven 
as this or that person v^ho has 
been serving God all his lifetime. 
Very often it happens that those 
who from the first accustom them- 
selves to do good end by looking 
upon it as a duty, and peiform it 
habitually, like any other actions 
of their life, and are easily dis- 
tanced by those souls whose fervor 
is greater, bat who have not been 
so long in the service of God. 
And again, Jesus bestows His grace 
according to our good-will ; for 
He is master of all grace, and 
can bestow more upon the work- 
man who only entered his service 
at the eleventh hour. 

Prayer, — Jesus, during this day, 
or this hour, which may perhaps be 
my last, give me grace to atone for 



XVI A THOUGHT FOR 

all tlie lU-spent hours, days, and years 
of my past life. 

Practice, — Do what you have to 
do, and lose not a moment. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR, 



"And when a very great multitude was gathered to- 
gether, and hastened out of the cities unto Him, 
He spoke by a aimilitude,"— /Sif. Luke viii. 4. 

Thought. — Let us gather round 
Jesus Christ, and He will instruct 
us ; and in our turn let us teach 
those who come to us to be in- 
structed in the word of Christ. 
Let us be simple towards the sim- 
ple, and, like our Divine Master, 
let us choose comparisons that strike 
the understanding of our hearers. 
Sensible things too often tend to 
lower and darken the intelligence ; 
we should show how, on the con- 
trary, they are capable of raising 
and enlightening it. 



6 A THOrGHT FOR 

Pra/yer. — Jesus, draw me near to 
Thee bj Thy words ; give me 
courage to leave everything be- 
hind to follow Thee, and hear Thy 
word. Permit me to gather round 
Thee those who forget or ignore 
Thy divine word, that they may 
hear and be overjoyed at Thy 
preaching. 

Practice. — Be docile to the in- 
terior and exterior voice of God. 



Monday. 

*' The sower went out to sow his seed."— /S'i^. Luhe 
viii. 5. 

Thought, — The sower is Jesus 
Christ, who, bidding adieu to His 
hidden life, comes down from heaven, 
and goes out to sow His seed — ^^^., 
His divine word. Semen est verbum 
Dei — The seed is the word of God. 
And Jesus sends out into the world 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 7 

other sowers — ^viz., the Apostles, Popes, 
Bishops, Priests, and Doctors. Let 
us also sow the word of God, and 
spread it by preaching and by dis- 
coursing, by means of good books and 
good conversation, by learned and 
by simple instruction ; in fine, let us 
sow everywhere, and at all times. 
As the sun throws out its light on 
places which the human eye has never 
seen, so let us throw out the light of 
God. He who would only sow the 
seed that yields for certainty would 
never sow at all. You must risk ten 
grains, or even more, to obtain one 
that will yield you fiftyfold. 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant that of all 
the good seed and light and inspira- 
tion which Thou castest into my heart, 
some at least may fall on good ground, 
and turn to Thy glory. 

Practice, — Profit by the word of 
God, and spread it about. 



8 A THOrGHT FOR 

Tuesday. 

**Andsome (of the seed) fell by the roadside."— /S^. 
Luke viii. 5. 

Thought, — There are some persons 
whose souls are like the roadside. 
Everybody passes by it. It is an odd 
succession of thoughts, desires, impres- 
sions, and sentiments, which end by 
hardening the soul just as pedestrians 
harden the road on which they con- 
tinually tread. So when the word of 
God falls on these souls it cannot 
penetrate, but remains upon the sur- 
face; and as seed falling by the way- 
side is soon trodden down by the 
passers-by or eaten by the birds, so 
the seed of God, falling upon dissi- 
pated and impure minds, is lost, or 
carried away, or trodden under foot, 
by the heavy weight of worldly inte- 
rest, or by the malice and influence 
of the devil. 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant that I may 
carefully preserve all seed that Thou 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAB. \) 

sowest in me, that, like Mary, I may 
keep all Thy sayings in my heart. 

Practice, — Do not lose one good 
thought. 

Wednesday. 

"And other some fell upon a rock."— >S^^. Luke viii. 6. 

Thought . — Of what use are good 
thoughts and intentions unless carried 
out % Or what will they profit if they 
are just begun and then left unfinish- 
ed ? Tou wish to do good, then pre- 
pare to encounter much resistance 
and many obstacles. You will meet 
with opposition — cecidit super pe- 
tram. Unless you are determined to 
do good, you will never succeed. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I confide in Thee, 
and in Thee alone. I will deposit in 
Thy heart all the good intentions 
with which T\\j grace may inspire me. 

Practice. — Be constant in your 
good resolutions. 



10 a thought for 

Thursday. 

"And other Bome fell among thorns."— >Sif. Luke viii. 7. 

Thought. — The thorns represent 
worldly care. How can the word of 
God ever be heard in a heart that 
is always full of passion, w^orldly 
thoughts and desires? If it were 
heard, it would soon be suffocated in 
this forest of useless and even guilty 
thoughts and desires. 

Prayer. — Jesus, may the fire of 
Thy love burn these thorns which 
stand so much in my way ; grant that 
I may have but one care — viz., Thee 
and Thy glory. 

Practice. — Burden yourself with 
no unnecessary care. 

Friday. 

"And other some fell upon good ground."— ^^. Xw*« 
viii. 8. 

Thought. — The good ground is not 
liardened like wnto the roadside, but 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 11 

is soft and yielding ; the good ground 
is not arid like the rocky soil, it is 
humid and fertile; the good ground 
may be covered with thorns — for 
thorns, like vice and vicious men, 
are to be found everywhere — but the 
husbandman will take care to root 
them out. Extirpate, likewise, from 
your soul all perverse thoughts and 
affections ; water and cultivate it by 
prayer and frequenting of the sacra- 
ments, which are channels of grace ; 
open wide your heart to divine inspi- 
ration, and this being done, the seed 
— i.e,^ the divine word and grace — 
will bring forth an abundant harvest. 

Prayer, — Jesus, surround my heart 
with a hedge that will preserve me 
against all false maxims and bad ex- 
ample, water it with Thy blood, root 
out from it all vices and dishonest affec- 
tions, and sow in it Thy divine word. 

Practice, — Be docile, but at the 
same time be firm and resolute. 



12 a thought for 

Saturday. 

** But that on the good ground are they who in a good 
and very good heart, hearing the woi d, keep it, and 
bring forth Iruit in patience."— /S^^J. Luke viii. 15. 

Thought, — The seed that falls on 
good ground takes firm hold, and 
grows up gradually. A good heart 
receives the inspirations of grace, and 
holds them firmly ; little by little the 
light appears, the resolution is formed, 
and the fruit comes forth. One does 
not, however, become good all in a 
day. Patience is necessary, not only 
for the furtherance of holy enterprise 
inspired by the love of God and neigh- 
bor, but also for the perfection of self. 
This is a lifelong work. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou art Thyself 
the seed, the word ; grant that I may 
receive Thee and guard Thee ; grant 
that I may sustain myself as Thou 
hast sustained me. 

Practice, — Do not be discouraged 
at the sight of your own faults. 



EACH DAT OF THE TEAE. 13 



(•Biufniittaflestma Suntras. 

*' Behold we go up to Jeruaalim and all things shall 
be accomplish, d which wire vMitien by the pro- 
phets couceriiiiig the Sou of man." — St. LuTU 
xviii. 31. 

Thought. — Jesus knows what He 
will have to suffer in Jerusalem, but 
nothing stops Him. Let us not turn 
back at the sight of the Cross. In spite 
of all that we may have to suffer, let 
us proceed obediently and submissive- 
ly, accomplishing our duty. What 
merit shall we not acquire? What 
glory do we not render to God by 
being faithful and constant in little 
things ? 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me invinci- 
ble courage to do Thy holy will. 

Practice, — Do your duty, and leave 
the rest to God. He will arrange all 
things. 



14: a thought for 

Monday. 

*' They will put Bim to death, and the third day He 
shall rise again."— aS^. Luke xviii. 33. 

Thought, — It is to no purpose that 
you turn your back upon the Cross. 
The world has its cross as well as 
religion. The cross of the world is 
but a faint shadow of that of hell. 
What are the sufferings and humi- 
liations of the libertine when com- 
pared to those of the Christian ? What 
are they in comparison to eternal 
ignominy and everlasting punish- 
ment ? 

Prayer. — Jesus, I wish to die upon 
the Cross with Thee, that with Thee I 
may also rise a^^ain. Tliy Cross raises 
man above earth, and above himself, 
is borne but for a short while, and 
brings after it eternal glory and eter- 
nal happiness. 

Practice, — Carry the cross which 
each day brings with it. 



each day of the year. 15 
Tuesday. 

**And they (the Apostlee^) understood nothiDg of 
these things."— /S'^. Luke xviii. 34. 

Thought. — The language of the 
Cross is difficult to understand. Hu- 
miliation and suffering are things dis- 
tasteful and repugnant to nature. 
The soul refuses humiliation, and the 
body rejects suffering. We do not 
understand that glory is bought by 
disgrace, that happiness is purchased 
by grief; and yet does not real glory 
principally consist in despising the 
contempt and the esteem of the world ? 
To experience real happiness, should 
we not feel strength and liberty 
enough to suffer anything rather 
than lose the sole supreme good, 
which is God Himself? 

Prayer. — Jesus, give me to under- 
stand the happiness and greatness 
that is to be found in despising the 
contempt of the world, and the sor- 
rows and griefs that are in it. Such 



16 A THOUGHT FOB 

contempt is superhuman. It is an- 
gelic ; it is divine. 

Practice, — Contempt of humilia- 
tion and suffering. 

Wednesday. 

*'But He cried out much more."— aS'^. Luke xviii. 39. 

Thought. — You must persevere in 
prayer, and ask and pray until you 
receive. Jesus wills to be beseeched, 
that He may prove the sincerit}' of 
your desires and the constancy of your 
will. When man stands in the way 
of your good works, do not lose cou- 
rage ; continue to pray, but address 
your prayers to God, not to man. 
Man is not to be relied upon. 

Prayer, — Jesns, I am blind, and 
cannot see my way. I am unable to 
walk. I can do nothing for Thee. 
Restore my sight, O Jesus ; raise me 
up, that I may walk in Thy paths, 
and work in Thy service. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 17 

Prayer, — ^Pray until your prayer is 
granted. 

Thuksday. 

** And Jesus standing, commanded him to be "bronght 
unto Him."— ;^^. Luke xviii. 40. 

Thought, — How powerful is prayer ! 
By a single word Josue stayed the 
sun in its course, and by one prayer 
the poor blind man stopped the Cre- 
ator of this sun. If you are unable to 
go to Jesus, pray to Him incessantly, 
and Jesus will wait for you, or will 
send a guide to conduct you to Him. 

Prayer, — Jesus, call me to Thee; 
if my fellow-creatures refuse to re- 
ceive me, Thou, at least, O God, wilt 
receive me. 

Practice, — Confidence and con- 
stancy in prayer. 

Friday. 

"Lord, that I may see."— /.y^. Jmke xviii. 41. 

Thought — Why have I not the 



18 A THOUGHT FOR 

same zeal and constancy in seeking 
spiritual light as this blind man had 
in trying to ])rocure bodily sight ? If 
Jesus so easily grants a demand for 
corporal blessings, how much more 
easily will He not hear our prayers 
when we beg spiritual blessings? 
But, alas ! with regard to spiritual 
things, I do not even perceive that I 
am blind. 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant that I may 
see all that is wanting in me towards 
truly serving and pleasing Thee, that 
I may see the vanity of passing things, 
and the truth of those which are last- 
ing. 

Practice. — Consult Jesus incessant- 
ly by means of prayer. 

Saturday. 

** Keceiye thy sight ; thy faith hath made thee whole." 

Thought, — When reason is blinded 
by passion, it can hardly distinguish 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAE. 19 

good from evil. Faith restores to us 
our intelligence and the use of reason. 
Faith triumphs over every obstacle. 
God takes pleasure in granting the 
requests of those who persist in their 
belief, and confide in Him. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I too would imi- 
tate the example of the blind man, 
who, when cured, immediately follow- 
ed Thee. I desire to see, that I may 
follow Thee, and bring my soul to 
Thee. Cured myself, I would gladly 
teach others to follow Thee. 

Practice. — Follow Jesus by faith. 



20 A THOUGHT FOB 



LENT. 



^' Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, to 
be tempted by the devil."— /S'^. Matthew iv. 1. 

Thought— The Holy Ghost leads 
us into the desert, away from the 
world and its glory. The spirit of 
the world teaches us to show our- 
selves, and to seek for admiration; 
but even in the desert we are liable 
to be tempted by the devil. We can 
never meet with repose and security 
in this world. 

Prayer, — Jesus, sustain me, and do 
not permit me to be tempted above 
my feeble strength. 

Practice. — Fly from the world, and 
seek solitude. 



each day of the year. 21 
Monday. 

*• And when He had faeted forty days and forty 
nights, afterwards He was hungry."— /S^if. Matthew 
iv. 2. 

Thought, — You should prepare for 
the combat by fasting. Begin by 
conquering yourself. When the soul 
has once triumphed over the senses 
and the flesh, you will then be pre- 
pared to attack the enemy without. 
Feebleness of body very often gives 
strength to the soul. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me to under- 
stand the efficacy of mortification, of 
which Thou liast given me the exam- 
ple by Thy forty days' fast ; grant 
that I may practise this mortification. 

Practice. — Mortify yourself con- 
tinually. 

Tuesday. 

**Not in bread alone shall man live, but in every 
word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.'*— > 
St. Matthew iv. 4. 

Thought, — As bread is the nourish- 



22 A THOUGHT FOR 

ment of the body, so is the word of 
God the nourishment of the soul. 
But the bread becomes part of our 
flesh and blood ; the word of God, on 
the contrary, transforms the soul. If 
we have faith in the divine word, our 
thoughts become divine. " How happy 
and glorious our life would be if we 
could only think as God thinks, and 
have no other will than God's will ! _ 
Prayer.— Zems, Thou art the di- 
vine word, the word made flesh, the 
word made visible. To whom, then, 
shall we go « Thou, and Thou alone, 
hast the word of eternal life. 

PractiGe.—LvfQ by faith, and by 
the word of Jesus Christ. 

"Wednesday. 

..Thon Bhalt not ^^^^^^^^^^^ '"^^ «°^-"-^'- 

Thought— y^Q need not do any- 

. thing wonderful or extraordinary ; let 

us follow the beaten track, and do 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 23 

as others do, only doing better. Let 
us distinguish ourselves by our retire 
ment and love of solitude. True 
beauty is the rare assemblage of all 
ordinary perfections in one person. 
So it is with sanctity, which is the 
greatest beauty one can have. A 
saint only does what others do, but 
he does that well, and for God alone. 

Prayer. — Jesus, give me that pure 
and upright simplicity which never 
swerves from right to left, which is 
never raised, but which is never low- 
ered, which, in fine, draws as to Thee, 
and to Thee alone. 

Practice, — Perform your ordinary 
actions well. 

Thursday. 

"All these will I give Thee, if falling down Thou 
wilt adore me."— aS'^. Matthew iv. 9. 

Thought, — We must fall down to 
obtain worldly power. The world 
gives its favors, honor, and applause 



24 A THOUGHT FOR 

to those only who cringe and beg and 
flatter. Who is more crafty, servile, 
and stooping than the ambitious man ? 
and what does one gain by such base- 
ness? The world promises what it 
has not power to give. Honor and 
power are not at her command. God 
and man are the only dispensers of 
these gifts. Men have nothing but 
contempt for the ambitious, and God 
seems to delight in frustrating the 
hopes of this wretched class of people. 

Prayer. — Jesus, give me strength to 
resist the promises of the world and 
snares of the devil. 

Pra6'25^(^^.— Despise servility and 

ambition. 

Friday. 

'^ Beffono. Fatan, for It is written, Tlie Lord thy God 
fha^t thou adore, and Him only Bhalt thou serve." 

—St. Matthew iv. 10. 

Thought— Qq hard and severe to- 
wards Satan. Consider as coming 



EACH DAY OF THE TEAE. 25 

from him all thoughts, actions, or say- 
ings of the world which are contrary 
to God. -^ 

Prayer.— 3Q&m, Thou art mv Sa- 
viour, my God! Thou art my Mas- 
ter. I will obey only Thee, and those 
who take Tliy place here on earth. I 
will serve none other than Thee, for 
Thou hast given me all I possess, and 
Thou only canst complete in me Thy 
work, and procure my salvation. 

Practice.— ^ee^ God, and God 
alone. 

Sattjedat. 

"Then the devil left Him, and behold aneela cam^ 
and mmiBtered to Hm'."_S<. ifo^L^fv! U? "^ 

Thought— Mter the fight comes 
gloi^y, so after the departure of the 
devil the good Angel comes. Such is 
life here on eartli, a continual fluctua- 
tion from good to evil thoughts, a 
perpetual combat between the good 
and bad spirits. Stand firm in the 



26 A THOTiaHT FOR 

hour of trial and the hour of comfort 
will soon draw near. 

Prayer. — Jesus, sustain my cou- 
rage during this fight with hope of 
victory. 

Practice.— ^Q confident in time of 

trial. 



EACH DAY OF THE TEAE. 27 



Secontr SutiTras in %mt, 

** Jesus ' taketh unto Him Peter and James and 
John," — St. Matthew xvii. 1. 

Thought, — Word and example are 
given to all, but special manifestations 
are reserved for the chosen few. Do 
not aim at celebrity, nor wish to be 
known by everybody. Jesus shows 
Himself in secret, and in solitude on 
a high mountain. You must walk 
out of the common paths if you would 
aspire to elevation of thought and de- 
sire, which are rays of the glory of 
Jesus. 

Prayer, — Jesus, raise my thoughts 
and desires above worldly care and in- 
terest ; grant that I may dwell in 
heaven, by the elevation of my heart 
and my intelligence. 

Practice, — Love of solitude. 



28 a thought for 

Monday. 

"And He was tranefigured before them."— /8'i^. Mat- 
thew xvii. 2. 

Thought, — As light precedes dark- 
ness, so consolation iw oflfered to us be- 
fore our trials. Jesus is transfigured 
before the three apostles whom He 
has chosen to witness His sufferings 
and His agony. In tliis mouient of 
glory He speaks of the ignominious 
death that awaits Him, and of the 
sufferings of His passion ; in the midst 
of His sufferings and His most bitter 
passion Ho spealvs of the glory that 
awaits Him, wlien, clothed in power 
and majesty, He will descend upon a 
cloud to judge the judges of this world. 

Prayer. — Jesus, when Thou raisest 
me by consolation, let me call to mind 
my past destitution ; let me think of 
wliat I may have to suffer in future 
time ; but when Thou thinkest lit to 
humble me by affliction, discover to 
me Thy glory and power. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 29 

Practice. — Be hopeful in time of 
trial and fearful in time of success. 



Tuesday. 

" And behold, there appeared to them Moses and 
Elias talking with Him.'*— xS^. Matthew xvii. 3. 

Thought, — Moses represents the 
law, Elias the prophets. All bears 
reference to Jesus Christ. The law 
is the road which leads to Him, and 
prophecy is the voice that tells of 
Him. Our actions are conformed to 
His will according to the law, and 
through the prophets our word is lik- 
ened to His thought. If we keep the 
law, we shall be just through His jus- 
tice ; if we believe the prophecies and 
the inspired writings, we shall be wise 
with His wisdom. 

Prayer, — Jesus, speak to me in the 
depths of my heart ; recall Thy law 
and Thy faith continually to my mind ; 
give me grace to believe what Thou 



30 A THOUGHT FOB 

commandest and to practise what I 
believe. 

Practice. — Regularity and faithful- 
ness. 

Wednesday. 

**Lord, it is good for us to be here."— /S^. Matthew 
xvii. 4. 

Thought — It seems good for us to 
be upon Mount Thabor ; but it seems 
less good to be upon Calvary. It is 
easy to stay with Jesus when all is 
smooth and tranquil, but it is less 
easy to persevere in times of afflic- 
tion and sadness. Let us prove our 
love for Jesus Christ by standing firm 
iu time of trial. Herein true love is 
proved. 

Prayer. — Jesus, one ray of Thy 
glory is enough to make me forget 
the whole world. Give me from time 
to time a ray of this light to sustain 
me on the cross. Canary would be 
insurmountable if it were not situated 
between Thabor and Mount Olivet. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 31 

Practice. — From Thabor look to- 
wards Calvary, from Calvary look 
towards Thabor. 

Thursday. 

"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleas- 
ed."— /S^. Matthew xvii. 5. 

Thought, — Jesus sometimes speaks 
to me Himself; at other times He 
speaks by His messengers, or by the 
inspirations of divine grace ; or, again, 
by the mouth of the preacher ; some- 
times, too, by events demonstrative 
of His divine will in my regard; and, 
finally, by means of those whom He 
has placed over me to direct my con- 
duct. In whatever way he speaks to 
me, He is always the same; He is 
ever the beloved Son of God the 
Father. Let us listen to His word, 
believe its teaching, and act accord- 
ing to its precepts. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou shalt be my 
light and my guide, for Thou only 
hast the word of eternal life. 



32 A THOUGHT FOR 

Practice. — Be docile to the call of 
Jesus. 

Friday. 

*' Arise, and fear x^Q\,P—St. Matthew xvii. 7. 

Thought. — We should prepare our- 
selves for action by contemplation ; 
consolation disposes us for the combat. 
You cannot always be on Mount 
Thabor. Arise, go forth coura- 
geously, and combat the world. 
Jesus sends you, you need not fear. 

Prayer, — ^Jesus, I will go, but on 
one condition, that Thou also enter 
the field of battle with me. 

Practice. — Confide in God alone: 

Saturday. 

*' TeU the vision to no man, till the Son of man be 
risen from the dead."— aS'^. Matthew xvii. 9. 

Thought. — We should not make 
known what favors we receive, for 
the world cannot understand them. 
On the contrary, we should hide our- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 33 

selves and all our tliouglits, actions, 
and desires. All we have in view is 
the glory and service of God ; our 
own glory will not suffer by our 
silence, for it will all be acknow- 
ledged on that final and decisive day 
of judgment. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I wish to be ig- 
nored as Thou wast ignored ; is not 
Thy esteem and Thy approval enough 
for me? 

Practice, — Desire to be thought 
little of. 



34 A THOUGHT FOR 

2ri)ira Sun^ag in 'S.tnt. 

"And He was casting out a devil, and the same was 
dumb."— >S^. Lukexi. 14. 

Thought. — This dumb devil is 
typical of human respect, for he is 
master and tyrant when our courage 
fails us, when we feel ashamed to de- 
clare ourselves Christians, when we 
are too cowardly to defend Christ and 
His Church, when, in fine, we are 
ashamed to denounce the blasphemy 
of the impious or the baseness of the 
libertine. It is this same devil who 
frightens the penitent from the con- 
fessional, and makes him feel ashamed 
of his sins. You are ashamed to con- 
fess your sins ; then Satan will re- 
main master of vour heart, and will 
lead you to perdition. 

Prayer. — Jesus, cast out from my 
heart all cowardly fear and all false 
shame ; let me never more be guilty 
of such injustice to Thy greatness and 
Thy goodness. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 35 

Practice. — Profess your faith open- 
ly, confess your faults humbly. 

Monday. 

"The dumb spoke, and the multitudes were in ad- 
miration at it."— aS'^. LuJce xxi. 14. 

Thought, — Such is the effect of 
human respect upon the mind that 
once having fallen to its power we 
feel unable to regain our liberty. 
How can we ever dare to show our- 
selves and speak our mind freely? 
The world will be amazed, what will 
it say of us ? We have but to speak, 
to openly declare our sentiments, and 
this same world, whose very look was 
enough to make us tremble and turn 
pale — this very world, I say, will be 
entirely disconcerted, and will admire 
where we expect it to find fault. 

Prayer. — Jesus, never let it be said 
that I am ashamed of Thee. 

Practice. — Never be guilty of hu- 
man respect. 



36 a thought for 

Tuesday. 

'*He casteth out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of 

devils." — St Luke xi. 15. 

Thought, — No matter what you do, 
the world will have its say. You 
perform good works — the world puts 
them down as performed out of pride ; 
you are silent, spend much time 
in solitude — the world will say that 
you are disdainful, or think yourself 
above society. Do not mind, Jesus 
was accused of being in league with 
the prince of devils. The disciple is 
not greater than fiis master. 

Prayer, — rJesus, grant that I may 
despise the contempt shown me by 
the world, which is so foolish in its 
judgments. 

Practice. — Despise public opinion. 

Wednesday. 

"Every kingdom divided against itself shall be 
brought to desolation.' —/S^ Luke xi. 17. 

Thought, — The wicked hate the 
Church, and in this alone they are of 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 37 

one mind. See liow they fight one 
against the other ! They despise one 
another, and not without good reason, 
for they know the baseness of each 
other's minds. They hate one an- 
other, because each is covetous of his 
neighbor's goods. They are impedi- 
ments to each other's progress, and 
are therefore enemies. And how 
they fight ! You have but to enter 
the lists, and victory is certain. 

Prayer. — -Jesus, Thou alone art 
able to establish and maintain unity 
among men. Thou alone art truth. 
Thou alone art Charity. 

Practice. — Be united to Christ by 
faith and charity. 

Thursday. 

" When a strong man armed keepeth his court, those 
things are in peace which he possesseth."— /S'^. Luht 
xi. 21. 

Thought. — This strong-armed man 
is the devil, and the court he keepeth 
is the soul when iu a state of mortal 



38 A THOUGHT FOR 

sin. Satan reigns in triumph over 
those who have rendered him allegi- 
ance by sin nntil by His grace Jesns 
drives out the usurper from this king- 
dom. 

Prayer, — Jesus, it will avail me 
little if, after driving the devil from 
my heart, Thou dost not close the 
entry to it, and keep watch, for Satan 
is roving about like a hungry lion 
seeking for admittance. 

Practice, — Be ever on the watch, 
for Jesus, thougli He is willing to 
reign over all free hearts, will not 
protect your heart unless you watch 
also. 

Friday. 

*' He that is not with me is against me ; and he that 
gathereth not with me scaitereth."— /S'^. Luke xi. 
23. 

Thought, — Avaunt, you who would 
serve two masters, who would light 
for Chi'ist and tor Belial ! Avaunt, 
you smooth-faced, ever-smiUng world- 
lings, who look with pleasure on 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 39 

Mother Church and smile benignant- 
ly at the prospect of a revohition ! 
You are afraid to declare yourself for 
Christ ; then you declare against 
Him. Tou are ashamed to decry the 
impious and the wicked ; then by 
this very shame you become a friend 
and confederate of the impious and 
wioked. You cannot call yourself a 
follower, friend, or brother, member 
of body of Jesus Christ, for the hand 
protects the head, and the arm de- 
fends the heart. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me to under- 
stand that all my thoughts, words, 
and actions that are not offered up to 
Thee by grace and by intention are 
lost for all eternity. 

Practice, — Declare yourself one of 
Christ's followers. 



Saturday. 

J of that man \s 
rst.''—St. Luke 

Thought, — A bad Christian is worse 



And the last state of that man becomes worse than 
the first."— /S'if. Luke xi. 26. 



40 A THOUGHT FOR 

than a bad pagan, a bad Catholic is 
worse than a bad Protestant, and a 
bad priest is worse than any one, ex- 
cept, perhaps, an apostate monk such 
as Martin Luther ; and he who abuses 
the great grace of conversion falls 
much deeper into sin tiian before, be- 
cause he falls from a higher eminence. 

Prayer, — Jesns, strengthen me in 
my weakness, bear me up with Thy 
grace ; Thou alone canst hold Thy 
own in me against Satan. 

Practice, — Make good use of grace. 



EACH BAY OF THE YEAR. 41 



iFourtJ) Sitntras in %tnt 

*• And a great multitude followed mm.''— St, John vi. 2. 

Thought, — If you wish the multi- 
tude to follow you, work wonders — 
that is, perform wondrous acts of kind- 
ness, for such is the secret of the suc- 
cess of our Lord and the Church. 
People are attracted by prodigies of 
goodness and virtue, such as relieving 
the necessitous and the poor ; but di- 
rectly Jesus attempted to raise the peo- 
ple's minds from the thought of tem- 
poral J)le3sings to that of spiritual, by 
promising them bread from heaven in 
place of that which was perishable, 
they at once cried out, '' Durus est hie 
sermo." This language is hard, and 
who can listen to it? 

Prayer, — Jesus, may I follow Tliee, 
not for Thy benefits and Thy goodness, 



42 A THOUGHT FOR 

but for Thyself alone. Thou art my 
only love. 

Practice. — Be united to Jesus only. 

Monday. 

"Jesus therefore went up into a mountain,"— iS'if. 
Johrb vi. 3. 

Thought. — Jesus does not seek the 
crowd; He contents Himself with do- 
ing good, preaching truth and con- 
ferring His favors on those w^ho ap- 
proach Him. In tliis way He gains 
a reputation for wisdom and bounty, 
and is soon followed by an admiring 
crowd. He withdraws Himself as 
much as possible ; He raises Himself 
above the affairs and men of this world. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou shalt be the 
mountain where I will take refuge 
against the multitude of thoughts, pas- 
sions, and desires which are ever sur- 
rounding me, and which distract my 
attention from Thee, and stop me in 
my search after Thee, my only good. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAE. 43 

Practice. — Make a sanctuary for 
yourself in the heart of Jesus, and 
unite your prayers with His. 

Tuesday. 

" Whence shall we buv b-ead, that these may eat ?" 
—St, John\\.b. 

Thought. — When you feel it impos- 
sible to proceed, do not lose courage, 
continue to hope. Acknowledge your 
helplessness, and God will come to 
your assistance. If you confide in your 
own strength, you are sure to fail. 
And why should we have such confi- 
dence in self? Have we not scores of 
times experienced how powerless are 
our efforts? Why should we so dis- 
trust our Lord, when He invites us to 
confide in Him ? Has He not pro- 
mised us His help? and have we not 
already had proofs of His power and 
kindness? 

Prayer. — Jesus, I acknowledge my 
weakness. Without Thee I can find 
no means of saving souls. 



44: A THOUGHT FOB 

Practice, — Despise yourK^elf, but 
trust in God. 

Wednesday. 

•* Make the men sit down. ''''—St. John vi. 10. 

Thought, — If you only do your best, 
God will do the rest. Begin your 
work and God w^ll consummate it. 
Be prudent, but do not mistrust. 
Never undertake on your own re- 
sponsibility anything chat is impos 
sible ; but if God commands you to do 
what may seem impossible, even if it 
be to feed five thousand persons with 
five loaves, be obedient to His word, 
and do as you are bid. ' ' Make the 
men sit down." It is in your power 
to do this much. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I will be docile 
and obedient, and will trust to Thee 
for success. 

Practice, — Do well all that you 
have to do. 



each day of the year. 45 
Thursday. 

" And Jesus took the loaves."— /S'l^. John vi. 11. 

Thought. — Whatever you possess, 
you should make good use of it. You 
have a little ; turn that little to good 
account. You possess but little ; give 
little, but at least give something. 
You have perhaps received but one 
talent ; do not bury it in the ground. 
Make use of the intellect, knowledge, 
will, power, health, wealth, and graces 
that are given to you. The little you 
have, if taken care of, will increase 
through the bounty of the Almighty. 

Prayer. — Jesus, take Thou posses- 
sion of all I have. In Thy hands the 
little I have will seem great. 

Practice, — Give yourself up en- 
tirely to Jesus Christ. 



Friday. 

ments that 
7i.l2. 

Thought. — You should not allow 



"Gather up the fragments that remain."— /S^. John 
7i.l2. 



46 A THOUGHT FOR 

any portion of God's gifts to be lost. 
Do not lose one moment of that time 
allotted to you b}^ God, time so pre- 
cious that God only gives it to us in 
small portions, so afraid is He lest we 
should wantonly squander it. Lose 
not a single thought, word, or action. 
If God keeps count of the pieces of 
bread that were over, how much more 
will He demand an account of each 
idle word. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me to under- 
stand that all is lost which cannot be 
referred to Thee or to Thy Fathers 
glory ; yes, lost for all eternity. 

Practice, — Never waste your time. 

Saturday. 

*' Jesus fled again into the mountain Himself alone." 
^St. John vi. 15. 

Thought, — The people wish to make 
Jesus king, and Jesus flies to the 
mountains. So when the w^orld w^ould 
wish to bestow praises npon you, you 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 47 

should take refuge in flight, with the 
good and pure intention of seeking 
only God, and God's service and His 
glory, in searching after souls and 
striving for their salvation, not in 
seeking for their esteem and aflfection. 
Raise yourself above the power of this 
world by raising your heart in prayer. 
This will render you great and power- 
ful before God, and in God's name. 

Prayer, Se^M^^ why should I seek 
for worldly power and glory ? That I 
may glorify Thee, and save souls? 
No ; for Thou, O Jesus, didst refuse 
worldly glory and worldly power, and 
we should follow Thy example. 

Practice, — Seek not for reputation 
or worldly honor. 



48 A THOUGHT FOR 



PASSION TIDE, 



Passion Suntras* 

** But if I say the truth, why do y^u not believe me ?" 

—St. Jolm viii. 46. 

Thought. — You can reproach me 
with no sin, and therefore with no lie. 
I only tell you the truth ; w^hy, then, 
do you not believe mo ? If Jesus 
could have spoken thus to the Jews, 
who did not believe in His divinity, 
what could He not say to the Chris- 
tians who know that He is God and 
yet refuse lo believe His word ; or, if 
they believe, refuse to conform their 
conduct to their belief? 

Prayer, — Jesus, I believe ; but I 
do not act 'upon my belief. I know 
that my life sliould be one of poverty, 
humility, and docility. Grant that 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 49 

for the future my conduct in life may 
coincide with my profession of faith 
and doctrine. 

Practice, — Let your faith be entire, 
sincere, and practical. 

Monday. 

" He that is of God hearpth the word of God/'— iS^^. 
Jokn viii 47. 

Thought. — Fidelity to grace implies 
preventing grace. God gives suffici- 
ent grace to all men ; but v^oe to him 
who resists the first impulse! He 
deserves the withdrawal of all those 
graces that are to follow, and he ex- 
poses himself to the danger of becom- 
ing insensible to the very graces that 
God in His bounty designs to send 
him. 

Prayer. — Jesus, without Thy aid I 
cannot make use of grace, but, un- 
happily, have power to resist it. 
Grant that I may never misuse this 
liberty, this power which Thou hast 
given me to serve Thee with and to 



50 A THOUGHT FOR 

save my soul, but not to offend Thee 
and to cause my own damnation. 
Practice. — Be docile to grace. 

TrESDAT. 
" 3ntl seek not my own glory/'— >S'^, John viii. 50. 

Thought. — You must forget awhile 
all self-interests and all self-glory, and 
think only of God's interest and 
glory ; and if you do, you will find 
that sooner or later, in spite of every 
obstacle, you will succeed in your 
undertakings ; and God, who never 
allows any one to outdo him in gene- 
rosity, will surely not be forgetful of 
your interests. The world itself, so 
severe towards tliose who push them- 
selves forward and demand notice, 
will hasten to acknowledge those who 
sink all thought of self in their desire 
of doing good to others. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I only seek for 
Thy glory. My sole aim is that Thou 
shouldst be known and loved and 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 51 

served. Grant that all my thonglits, 
words, and actions may ever take 
their origin from this one desire. 

Practice, — Have God always in 
view. 

Wednesday. 

'* If any man keep my « ord, he shall not see death for 
ever."— >S'iJ. John viii. 51. 

Thought, — Jesus is the life, and 
why ? Because He is the Word and 
the Truth. Truth is life, inasmuch 
as it is the intellectual life — that is, 
the life of the soul. Keep the word 
of Jesus. Think as Jesus thought 
and speak as Jesus spoke ; act in ac- 
cordance with His word and you shall 
live for ever. The death of the soul 
separates us from God. Keep the 
word of God by faith and charity. 
Faith makes j^our thought and intelli- 
gence conformable to the divine word, 
and charity makes your action and 
your will likewise conformable to it, 
so that you will live eternally. 

Prayer. — Jesus, be to me the life ; 



52 A THOUGH^r FOR 

never let me forget Thy word ; may 
I follow its precepts in everything. 

Practice, — Keep before you some 
saying of Jesus Christ. 

Thuesday. 

" Whom dost Thou make Thyself V—St. John viii. 53. 

Thought. — Do not be afraid to show 
yourself as your are. Incline less to 
the multitude and to public opinion, 
and incline more to Holy Church. 
Our Mother Church has condemned 
certain doctrines which public opinion 
still upholds. You are then wiser 
than tlie infallible Doctor; and you 
think it imprudent to condemn what 
the Pope condemns? ^^Whom dost 
thou make thyself?" Quern te ip- 
sumfacis ? Are you Christian ? Are 
you Catholic ? 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant that I may 
never feel ashamed to declare myself 
Thy follower, an obedient and faithful 
disciple of Thy Vicar here on earth. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 53 

Practice. — Proclaim the doctrine of 
the Church, and loudly protest against 
error. 

Friday. 

" Before Abraham was made I am."— /S'^. John viii. 58. 

Thought, — Let us serve Him who is 
before Abraham. Here below man is 
born and dies, man passes away ; God 
alone has no beginning and no end ; 
He passeth not away. Jesus does 
not say "I was^" but "I am." Jesus 
is not of the past nor of the future. 
All our thoughts, words, and actions 
— all that we do for Jesus, partake in 
some degree of His eternity. We 
perform a passing act of goodness, 
and are rewarded for ever and ever. 
The grace with which it was perform- 
ed stamps it with God's seal, and 
it bears fruit for ever. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou alone dost 
live for ever ; man is ever passing 
away in death. I will belong to 
Thee, and Thee only. 



54 A THOUGHT FOR 

Practice. — Unite all your inten- 
tions to those of Jesus Christ. 

Saturday. 

"They took up stones therefore to cast at Him ; but 
Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple." 
—St. John viii. 59. 

Thought, — This is th6 only answer 
that passion makes to reason, heresy 
to faith — viz., violence. Ye sophists, 
you are so certain of the triumph of 
your own ideas ? If this it be, allow 
the Church the liberty of teaching 
and instructing. What fear you? 
Besides, violence is powerless. The 
Church escapes your fury, and in spite 
of all prevention she pursues her ob- 
ject in secret when she cannot pursue 
it in public. 

Prayer, — -Jesus, grant that I may 
seek safety from the violence of ene- 
mies of faith and goodness in retreat. 

Practice, — Unite prudence to firm- 
ness in all your actions. 



EACH DAT OF THE YEAK. 55 



Palin Suntrag. 

"And when they drew nigh to Jerusalem, and were 
come to Beihphage, unto Mount OhweV— St. 
Matthew xxi. 1. 

Thought — What a contrast on this 
Mount Olivet to-day ! This, a day 
of triumph for our Lord, will soon be 
followed by His Sacred Passion, 
which begins with His agony and the 
disturbance in the garden, and which 
is finally consummated by His death 
— and after death there is His triumph 
of the Ascension. Such is our life too. 
We taste the sweetness of success to- 
day, to-morrow w^e shall drink the bit- 
ter cup of disappointment. Yester- 
day we were praised and spoken well 
of, to-day we are blamed and reviled. 
We are filled with consolation now, 
but, and in a short while, we shall taste 
desolation. And it is by these suc- 
cessions of light and darkness that we 



56 A THOUGHT FOS 

obtain eternal light, and finally enjoy 
the certain triumph of the Ascension. 

Prayer. — Jesus, sustain and console 
me in times of spiritual darkness ; 
whether Thou are hidden or visible 
it matters not, so long as Thou art 
present unto me. 

Practice, — Be tranquil and even- 
minded in the midst of present troub- 
les and difficulties. 

Monday. 

** you shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her ; loose 
thmi and hriDg them to aa^y—St, Matthew xx'. 2. 

Thought, — The ass here represents 
the ancient people of God, tied by the 
law of God. The colt, which is free, 
and not yet broken in, is typical of 
the Gentiles. It is the duty of the 
Apostles to bring both to Jesus. The 
ass reminds us of those habitual vices 
which chain us fast within their do- 
main. The colt tells us of those sud- 
den outbursts which carry us from 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 57 

the path of good. Again, the ass re- 
presents those persons of the world 
who perform everything by routine, 
and give themselves up to idleness, 
and are neglectful of their duty ; 
w^hile the colt is emblematical of those 
persons who are ruled by a spirit of 
pride, anger, or impatience. If you 
are desirous that Jesus ghould enter 
into your heart, submit yourself whol- 
ly to His guidance, make Him an 
offering of you habits -and your pas- 
sions. 

Prayer. — Jesus, here am I before 
Thee with all my inclinations and all 
my imperfections, dispose of me ac- 
cording to Thy pleasure. 

Practice, — Fight against your 
faults, and more especially against 
those to which you are most subject. 

Tuesday. 

** Say ye that the Lord hath need of them."— *S'^ 
Matthew'sx.U 3. 

Thought, — Everything gives way 



58 A THOUGHT FOR 

before those words, " The Lord hath 
need." When God wills anything, it 
must be done, in spite of the opposi- 
tion of the world ; no matter how 
reasonable this opposition may appear, 
it will give way to the will of God. 
When, therefore, our Lord commands, 
go you and obey His summons. How 
unprecedented is this command. Go 
loosen and bring with you an animal 
the property of another, and do this 
in the presence of the owner, without 
even asking his permission ! The 
Master of masters has spoken ; obey, 
and all will happen as He desires, as 
He has foretold. 

Prayer, — Jesus, if Thou didst com- 
mand me to do that which seems im- 
possible, I would obey. Da quod 
jubes^ et jube quod vis — I will do 
what Thou commandest, but com- 
mand wliat Thou pleasest. 

Practice. — Obey at once, and with- 
out reasoning. 



each day of the year. 59 
Wednesday. 

"Tell ye the daughter of Si on: Behold thy King 
Cometh to thee, meek."— /S'^. Matthew xxi. 5. 

Thought. — The daughter of Sioii is 
the soul. Jesus, in order to take pos- 
session of our souls, rides triumphant- 
ly first upon the ass, and tlien upon 
the colt — that is, He becomes the 
King of our hearts, after having cor- 
rected us of our bad habits and our 
passions, which are here represented 
by the ass and the colt. How easily 
will He not effect His entry into our 
soul, now that it is no longer open \o 
revolt and insubordination ! 

Prayer. — Jesus, conquer my pride 
and my inertness. One word from 
Thee could work wonders in me. 

Practice. — Give yourself up to the 
government of Jesus. 



Thursday. 

s poingr did as 
*—St. Matthew 3 

Thought. — The power of man lies 



And the disciples poingr did as Jepns commanded 
them."— /S'^. Matthew xxi. 6. 



60 A THOUGHT FOR 

in obedience. God speaks, let us act ; 
God commands, let us do as we are 
commanded. This straightforward, 
open simplicity is of itself strong 
enough to overturn all obstacles. It is 
simply heroic; this entire forgetful- 
ness of self is superhuman — yes, it is 
supernatural. It is no longer man 
who acts, judges, performs; but it is 
God who judges, acts, performs in 
him. Man acts according to the will 
of God ; he does all things according 
to God's will and through His power. 

Prayer. — Jesus, be Thou my wis- 
dom, my goodness, my power. When 
shall I become as a simple tool, obedi- 
ent to Thv hand ? 

Practice, — Yield an upright, sim- 
ple, prompt, and blind obedience. 

Friday. 

" And a very great mjaltitude spread their garments 
in the way.*'— /S'^. Matthew xxi. 8. 

Thought. — Let us, by spreading our 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 61 

inclinations before the feet of Jesus, 
and submitting them to Him, welcome 
Him in His entry into onr hearts. 
Let all our intentions and desires be 
under His directions. Let us also 
throw before Him branches of trees, 
palms, and leaves, typical of our tri- 
umpli over our defects. 

Prayer, — Jesus, come as conqueror 
into my heart, and reign there over 
all my senses and my faculties. 

Practice, — Leave all that concerns 
you in the hands of Jesus. 

Saturday. 

" Hosannah to the Son of 'D&Yi^.''—St.Matthew xxi. 9. 

Thought, — To-day hosaunahs ring 
through the air ; all is glory and hon- 
or. To-morrow it is " Crucify Him, 
crucify Him ! " Such is the world ! 
such is mankind ! such is the sovereign 
at whose feet fools beg and scrape ! 
Do you still trust the esteem and 
praise of the world? 



62 A THOUGHT FOR 

Prayer — Jesus, Thou alone art my 
King and my Saviour. Thou alone 
wilt be my Judge. What need have I 
^f the opinion of men ? 

Practice, — Despise the world's 
praises, as well as its condemnation. 



EACH DAT OF THE TEAR, 63 



PASCHAL TIDE. 



*' And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalen and 
Mary the m )ther of James and Salome bought 
e«weet i-pices, that c >ming they might anoint 
JesvLS.'^—St. Mark xvi. 1. 

Thovght, — Primary devotion should 
consist in observance of the law. The 
holy women waited until the Sabbath 
was over to buy the sweet spices 
wlierewith to anoint Jesus. But let 
us fulfil more than the precept re- 
quires, and when it is a question of 
lionoring Jesus in His body, which is 
tlie Church, and in the members of 
His body, which are the poor, let us 
spare neither money nor labor. 

Prayer. — J( sus, if my love for Thee 
is real, I shall never think I have done 
enough to honor Thee. 



64 A THOUGHT FOR 

Practice. — Be zealous for the honor 
of the Church, and for the relief of 
the poor. 

Monday. 

~*^ And very early in the morDicg the first day of the 
week, they come to the sepulchre, the eun being 
now risen."— /S^. Mark xvi. 2. 

Thought. — Love is active and pru- 
dent. Active — valde mane^ they 
came very early in the morning. 
Hindrance or delay is unknovra to 
those who love when it is question of 
honoring the beloved. Prudent — 
orto jam sole^ they came after the sun 
had risen. Love waits for the light ; 
in spite of its ardor, it follows that 
natural sun given to us by God to 
guide U8, namely, reason and faith, 
also that supernatural sun wliose bril- 
liancy God gives us in addition to 
reason. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Sun of truth for 
the intellect. Sun of justice for the 
will, draw me towards Thee, grant 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 65 

that I may ever incline towards Thee, 
enlighten me, that I may always walk 
in the light of Thy word. 

Practice. — Be prudent and active 
in God's service. 

Tuesday. 

'' Who shall roll ns back the stone f>om the door of 
the sepulchre ^''—ziSj^. Mark xvi. 3. 

Thought. — How would it be if we 
were to know everything ? Not only 
does an enormous stone close the 
entrance to the sepulchre, but this 
stone is sealed by the powerful ene- 
mies of our Lord, and is surrounded 
by soldiers. Go on in spite of all 
this ; God asks of you only that which 
you are able to perform ; He takes 
what seems impossible upon himself. 
When you draw near, all these ob- 
stacles have disappeared. True, your 
sweet spices are of no service, but 
your wishes have been accomplished 
and even surpassed. 



66 A THOUGHT FOR 

Prayer. — Jesus, if Thou triest Thy 
friends, it is but to surprise them witli 
consolations which more than recom- 
pense for any sacrifice. 

Practice. — Make progress in spite 
of obstacles. 

Wednesday. 

'* And looking, they saw the stone rolled back."— /S'i!l. 
Mark xvi. 4. 

Thought. — When it is question of 
the honor of our Lord, we should al- 
ways go on. Obstacles that present 
themselves may be unconquerable for 
you ; but God will send His Angel, 
and when you have done all that is in 
your power, you will find the obsta- 
cle removed. 

Prayer. — Jesus, give me effective 
love which nothing can ever quench, 
which will cause me to forget myself 
in the thought of Thee. 

Practice. — Be constant in your ef- 
forts, and trust in God. 



each day of the teak. 67 
Thuksday. 

*' And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young 
man sitting on the right side clothed with a white 
robe."— /^^. Mark xvi. 5. 

Thought — When we have exhaust- 
ed our wisdom and power, God sends 
us His Angels to enlighten and help 
us. Thus anxiety is followed by a 
calm. The Angel is sitting — vide- 
Tunt juvenem sedentem. Light fol- 
lows darkness. The Angel is clothed 
with a shining robe — coopertum stola 
Candida. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I will ever con- 
tinue in my search for Thee, even in 
the shades of death, and by dint of 
searching I shall find light and peace. 

Practice. — Have Jesus ever in 
sighU 

Fkiday. 

** Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified : He is 
risen, He is not here."— aS^. Mark xvi. 6. 

Thought. — The Crucified One is 
risen again. Nailed upon the Cross, 
He was taunted by the Jews, who de- 



68 A THOUGHT FOR 

tied Him to descend. He wished to 
surprise you ; it was difficult to come 
down from the Cross w^hereon the 
body was nailed hand and foot, but it 
was still more difficult to come out of 
the grave, and return from death to 
life. Come now, ye enemies of 
Jesus, and shake your heads before 
this empty sepulchre — surrexit^ non 
est Mg^ He is risen. He is not here. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I will seek Thee 
crucified, and I shall find Thee risen 
and triumphant. 

Practice. — Be not afraid of the 
Cross of Christ. 

Saturday. 

*' But go, tell His disciples and Peter, thatHS goeth 
before you into Galilee."— /S'lf. Mark xvi. 7. 

Thought. — All His disciples have 
abandoned Him, Peter has denied 
Him thrice, and Jesus holds great 
consolation in store for them, especi- 
ally for him who is most guilty. Be 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 69 

not discouraged at j^our weakness and 
cowardice. Jesus is ready to forget 
all 3^our misery. He will think only 
of j'^our love and repentance. He an- 
ticipated you by the grace of calling 
you to Him ; He again anticipates 
you by the grace of forgiveness — 
prcBcedet vos in Galilceam. 

Prayer, — Jesus, in the day of bat- 
tle thou didst remain alone ; in the 
days of Thy triumph thou wert all- 
sufficient to Thyself, but Thou givest 
a share in Thy glory to those who 
had not the courage to share Thy 
sufferings and ignominy. 

Practice, — ^No matter how unfaith- 
ful you may have been, be not dis- 
couraged. 



70 A THOUGHT FOR 



jFtrst Suntrag aftrt 15 aster. 

" Now when it was late, and the doors were shut, 
Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to 
them, Peace be to you."— xS'^. John xx. 19. 

Thought, — The littleness of our faith 
retards the coming of Jesus ; but 
when He sees that we really love 
Him, He is not long in taking pity 
on our weakness. Besides, there is 
nothing to prevent Him — neither 
night, which He dissipates by the 
brightness of His glory, nor the door 
of our heart, which is no longer closed 
by mistrust and by fear. He can en- 
ter when He likes and as He likes. 

Prayer, — Jesus, enter into my soul, 
Thou alone canst establish there true 
calm and peace. 

Practice, — Have Jesus always pra- 
sent in your heart. 

Monday. 

" As the Father hath sent me, I also send y©u."— aS'^. 
John XX. 21. 

Thought, — The priest is God's am- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 71 

bassador — what a dignity ! The An- 
gel said, ''I shall be like unto the 
All Hio-h. The All High is Jesus— 
Tu solus altissimus Jesu Christe. 
The priest is the ambassador, the rep- 
resentative of Jesus Christ, as Jesus 
Christ Himself is the Word, and im- 
age of the Heavenly Father. Let 
honor and respect be paid to the 
priest, who takes the place of the 
Most High ! Let honor be given to 
the Most High present in the priest. 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant that the 
faithful may respect Thy minister 
and the minister may respect himself, 
so that, while sustaining his dignity 
by word and deed, he may cause 
Thee to be respected in his person. 

Practice. — ^Respect for God's min- 
isters. 

Tuesday. 

'* Receive ye the Holy GVost. Whose sir s yen shall 
foro^ive, they are forgiven ; » nd whose si^-s y^n 
shall retaic, they are retained."— /Si. John xx. 
22, 23. 

Thought. — The Holy Ghost is given 



72 A THOUGHT FOR 

to the Apostles, and by them is trans- 
mitted to the priest, who can give or 
hold back grace, who has power of 
forgiving or retaining sins. Thus it 
is that the sinner receives absolution 
with moral assurance of pardon and 
reconciliation. 

Prayer. — I thank Thee for the 
power granted by Thee to Thy min- 
isters to save me. 

Practice. — Frequent and earnest 
confession. 

Wednesday. 

" We have seen the Lord. . . . Except I shall see, 
... I will not believe."— /S'^. John xx. 25. 

Thought. — The Apostles rejected 
the testimony of the Holy Women. 
Thomas refuses their testimony. This 
is justice, and Thomas is consistent. 
And yet what rashness in this same 
prudence, which dares to impose con- 
ditions upon our God. Certainly we 
must be prudent. We must not look 
upon the first idea crossing our imagi- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 73 

nation as an inspiration from on high, 
but we must not exact from God ad- 
ditional miracles, and the revelation 
of Himself to us. To determine our 
belief in what G^od has aflBrmed, and 
to act according to His wishes, it 
should suffice that the light of reason, 
and the authority of wise and sincere 
men, discover to us the revelation 
which has already been made. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I am in total dark- 
ness ; but if Thou dost not enlighten 
me at once, I will be guided by those 
whom Thou hast chosen for me as my 
superiors. 

Practice, — Practise docility, the 
wise medium between foolish creduli- 
ty, which believes in everything, and 
brutal stubbornness, which believes 
in nothing. 

Thursday. 

*'Be not faithless, but believicg." — St. John xx. 27. 

Thought, — Docility is a belter 
proof of intelligence than incredulity. 



74 A THOUGHT FOR 

What is required to refuse belief? 
Obstinacy, than which nothing is 
easier; one need only refrain from 
exercising his intelligence. What 
must one do to believe ? One must 
listen attentively, with the desire of 
being instructed. Docility most 
facilitates instruction. Incredulity is 
a refusal to listen or learn, a brutal 
persistence in ignorance. The incre- 
dulous man is a being confined in the 
sphere of his own mind. 

I^rayer,—Jes,us, faith is as much a 
gift as intelligence — the latter a nat- 
ural, the former a supernatural gift. 
Thou hast given me both — the former 
in creating me, the latter in making 
me a Christian. Give me, O Jesus, 
an increase of both. 

Practice. — Firmness of faith. 

Friday. 

** My Lord, and my God.:'— St, John xx. 28. 

Thought, — Thomas, whose belief 
was more slow than that of tlie others, 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. Y5 

surpasses them all in liis protestation 
of belief. No one until now bad so 
openly declared the divinity of Jesus 
Christ. Let us never say, Oh ! it is 
too late ; but, by renewal of our efforts, 
let us make up for hesitation or for 
loss of time. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I submit. Thy 
resurrection proves to me Thy pow- 
er ; the marks of Thy wounds prove 
Thy bounty towards me. Thou art 
my Lord, and my God. 

Practice. — Zeal in making up for 
your negligence in the past, 

Saturday. 

** Blessed are they that have not seen and haye 
believed/'— /S^. John xx. 29 

Thought. — Readiness of belief may 
be a sign of a weak or a strong mind 
— a weak mind, inasmuch as one, 
through sloth or wantonness, finds it 
easy to believe what comes first to 
hand ; a strong-minded one, inas- 
much as having compared the state- 



76 A THOUGHT FOR 

ments of witnesses and the proofs of 
their doctrine, one belies^es in their 
words at once. Narrow minds argue 
incessantly, and cavil at everything 
that is said. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I believe. Thy 
divinity is amply and sufficiently 
proved. Speak, then ; I will believe 
all Thou tellest me — every word 
spoken by Thy mouth. 

Practice, — Do not reason so much. 
God has spoken — believe. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 77 



Setontr Suntras ufttv iSaster^ 

'* I am the good shepherd.''— -S'if. John x. 11. 

Thought. — The Good Shepherd di- 
rects, feeds, and defends His flock. 
Jesus directs us by His word and ex- 
ample, feeds us with His Body and 
Blood in the Eucharist, and defends 
us by His Cross against our enemies, 
which are the world, the flesh, and 
the devil. 

Prayer. — Jesus, give me the meek- 
ness and confidence of the sheep — 
meekness, that I may be wholly 
guided by Thee; confidence, that I 
may seek Thee when I am attacked 
by the enemy. 

Practice. — Imitate Jesus, His doc- 
trines, and His example. 



Monday. 

i giveth His 1: 
S'i^. John X. 11. 

Thought. — Let us realize what is 



*'The good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep." — 
St. John X. 11. 



78 A THOUGHT FOR 

the price of a soul. It is worth Jesus 
Christ's own life. Jesus is wisdom 
itself; He would not give His life for 
a soul if the soul was unworthy ot 
the sacrifice ; and if such is the value 
of my soul, the value of my brother's 
soul is as great. I must then do 
everything in my power for the salva- 
tion of my neighbor. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me courage 
to sacrifice all things for the salvation, 
firstly, of my soul, and, secondly, for 
that of !ny neighbor. 

Practice, — Live and die for the 
salvation of souls. 

Tuesday. 

" But the hireling seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth 
the sheep and flietli."— /S'l^. John x. 13. 

Thought. — The wolf represents the 
heretic, sophist, the man of scandal, 
or any one who by word or example 
would draw the Cliristian into error 
or vice. Unless you fight against 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 79 

error and vice, you are a hireling; 
you have no love for souls, nor for 
Jesus Christ, who has redeemed souls 
by his own blood. What, then, 
w^ould you be if you were to demand 
freedom for error and vice ? 

Prayer, — Jesus, inspire me with a 
constant hatred and a holy anger 
against error and vice. 

Practice, — Think often of Jesus, 
who is ever thinking of you. 

Wednesday. 

"1 know mine (sheep), and mine know me." — aS'^. 
John X. 14. 

Thought, — If I were to say to you, 
The Pope has spoken of you, you 
would exclaim, What ! does the Pope 
know me ? It is very likely that the 
Pope knows you not; but it is very 
certain that Jesus knows you, thinks 
of you, and is preparing for you a 
place in His heavenly fold. And 
you, do you know Him % Tou know 



80 A THOUGHT FOR 

full well that He became man and 
died for you. Do you think of it? 

Prayer. — Jesus, teach uie to know 
Thee and think of Thee, and, like the 
sheep, ever to look up to Thee for 
guidance. 

Practice, — Often think of Jesus, 
who is ever thinking of you. 

Thursday. 

"As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father ; 
and I lay down my life for my sheep."— /S"^. John 
X. 15. 

Thought, — The infinite love which 
the Father and Son have for each 
other proceeds from that mutual un- 
derstanding existing between Them. 
So from the mutual understanding of 
Shepherd and sheep springs a love 
which induces the Shepherd ro give 
His life for His sheep, the sheep to 
sacrifice their life for their Shepherd. 
Jesus Christ dies for Christians, and 
Christians die martyrs for Jesus 
Christ. All understanding which 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 81 

does not tend towards love is sterile 
and useless ; love which is not ready 
for action is false and imaginary. 
Now, the effect of love is the abandon- 
ment and sacrifice of one's self. 

Prayer. — Jesus, what didst Thou 
see in me worthy of thy life's sacri- 
fice? Thou didst see the image of 
Thy Father and Thyself, for Thou art 
the image of the Father. Thus Thou 
dost recognize and love in me both 
Thy Father and Thyself. 

Practice, — Sacrifice yourself for 
souls and for Jesus. 

Fkiday. 

'* And other sheep I have that are not of this fold."— 
St. John X. 16. 

Thought. — I am one of those sheep 
whom Jesus had in his mind then. 
What can I do to respond to His 
solicitude and tenderness ? Firstly, 
I will be docile to His call, and will 
faithfully follow Him; secondly, I 



82 A THOUGHT FOR 

will share His solicitude, and will en- 
deavor to lead to Him those other 
sheep belonging to Him whom he 
wishes to save, but who are being 
lost outside His fold. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou art the only 
Shepherd, Thou alone givest souls 
their nourishment, which is truth for 
the mind and justice for the will. 

Practice. — Pray, and, if in your 
power, give something towards the 
propagation of the faith. 

Sattjeday. 

" And there shall be one fold and one Bhepherd." — 
St. John X. 16 

Thought. — Jesus is the one Shep- 
herd. The vicar of Christ is the one 
Shepherd, one and the same with 
Jesus Christ. Let us believe in what 
Christ teaches, and in what He pro- 
claims by the mouth of His vicar, and 
we shall have one and the same 
mind, one and the same belief. 



EACH DAY OF THE TEAR. 83 

Let ns desire what God desires and 
commands through His representa- 
tive here on earth, and we shall have 
one and the same will, one and the 
same heart. Then there will be but 
one fold and one shepherd. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I believe all that 
Thou teachest, I desire all that Thou 
commandest. 

Practice. — Faith, and obedience to 
Christ and His vicar. 



84 A THOUGHT FOR 



*' A little wMle and h'^w you shall not see me."— ^S'^. 
John xvl. 16. 

Thought. — Jesus often conceals His 
presence from the faithful soul, and 
permits her to suffer without light 
or consolation. But he always fore- 
warns her, and grants her enough 
light and strength to guide and 
fortify her during her trial. 

Prayer, — Jesus, if it is Thy wish 
to prove me and to conceal Thyself 
from me, do not be far off, but in Thy 
concealment still be present to me. 

Practice, — Confide in Jesus, even 
when He may seemingly be absent. 

Monday. 

*' And again a little while, and you ehaU see me."-f 
John XVI. 16. 

Thought, — After day comes night, 
after night comes day. Trial follows 
consolation, consolation follows trial ; 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 85 

modicum a little while, consolation 
lasts but a short while — et iteruTn 
modicum, desolation, too, is of short 
duration. Let us take advantage of 
the time of consolation to direct our 
course and to be in readiness when 
the tempest shall burst forth. Let us 
profit by desolation and recognize our 
weakness; let us humble ourselves to 
discover what is wanting in us. Dur- 
ing time of consolation the remem- 
brance of our weakness should keep 
us humble ; and when desolation is 
upon us, the knowledge of its short 
duration should sustain and strengthen 
us. 

Prayer. — Jesus, from Thy hands 
only do I expect that peace which can 
never be obtained from man. 

Practice, — Hope always, but in 
Jesus only. 

Tuesday. 

*' Because I go to my Father."— aS^. John xvi. 16. 

Thought, — Wherefore this disap- 



86 A THOUGHT FOR 

pearance of our Lord ? Because He 
returns to His Father. Why does 
He return ? — Vado parare vohis 
locum. We shall see Him again. 
He will return to judge and reward 
us ; let us rejoice at his absence. It 
is to our interest, and will only last a 
short while. Let us rejoice at it for 
His sake. He returns to His Father 
to enjoy that glory He has so well de- 
served. 

Prayer. — Jesus, go unto Tliy 
Father and associate Thy holy hu- 
manity with the glory of Thy divini- 
ty, but do not forget me, who am the 
least member of that great body which 
is Tliine own — viz., the Holy Church. 

Practice. — Union with the Father 
through Jesus Christ. 

Wednesday. 

'' We know not what He speaketh/'— /S'^. John:s.\\. 18. 

Thought. — Often I do not know 
what God wishes to tell me, especial- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 87 

ly when I meet with contradiction ; 
and yet contradiction is a word of 
God, as clear and as efficacious as any 
of God's words. Opposition often 
contributes more largely than favur 
towards the perfection of work un- 
dertaken for the glory of God. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou abandon est 
me just at the moment of action. 
This desertion would be inexplicable 
if it were real ; but it is only appar- 
ent. From heaven above where 
Thou sittest in Thy glory, and from 
the depths of my heart where Thou 
dwellest by grace. Thou never ceasest 
to enlighten and strengthen me. 

Practice, — Constancj^ in the dark- 
ness of trial. 

Thursday. 

'*Your sorrow shall be changed into joy."— aS^. John 
xvi. 20. 

Thought,— EaYQh upon earth, in my 
lifetime, if I place all my hope in 
Jesus, and in Jesus only, joy will 



88 A THOrGHT FOR 

succeed to sadness, or rather sadness 
itself will be changed into joy; that 
which was sorrow will turn to happi- 
ness. The trial which I looked upon 
as an evil will become the source 
of good. 

Prayer. — Jesus, sustain me still in 
times of trial, for without Thy help I 
cannot await Thy return. 

Practice, — Always hope, even 
against hope. 

Friday. 

** I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice/*— 
St, John xvi. 22. 

Thought, — Everything is not lost 
when Jesus conceals Himself. He 
disappears only to return. The sun 
is no further from the earth during 
the night than during the day, nor 
does it cause the earth to move more 
slowly when there is darkness. Be- 
sides, be patient; joy that follows 
trial is more true and more pure. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 89 

Prayer. — Jesus, if I love Thee as 
I ought, that is, more than myself — 
if forgetting self I seek only for Thee, 
I shall be like to Thee, ever happy. 

Practice, — Rejoice at the glory of 
God. 

Saturday. 

" And your joy no man Bhall take from you."— ^<. 
John xvi. 22. 

Thought. — Jesus alone can give 
that joy which neither world nor 
death can steal away from us. We 
must free ourselves of everything 
which pertains not to Jesus Christ. 
Willingly or unwillingly we shall 
liave one day to give up and sacrifice 
everything — Jesus alone will remain 
to us. 

Prayer. — Jesus, give me to under- 
stand and feel that Thou alone art 
sufficient for me, and that without 
Thee all the world is as nothing. 

Practice. — Rejoice in Jesus, and 
through Jesus only. 



90 A THOUGHT FOE 



j^ottctS Sunltafi after Sasttr. 

"And now I go to Him that eent me."— /Sif. John 
xvi. 5. 

Thought. — Go, Lord ; go, give an 
account of Thj mission — Thy bands 
and feet pierced by nails, Tby beart 
pierced, tell plainly bow Tbou hast 
fulfilled Tbj^ mission. Immortal 
glory awaiteth Thee ! 

Prayer. — Jesus, Tbou in turn 
bast sent me. But what have I done ? 
Where are the marks of my self-sacri- 
fice? Where are the souls I should 
oflFer to Thee I 

Practice. — Faithfulness to the du- 
ties of your vocation. 

Monday. 

" It is expedient to you that I go.'*''— St. John xvi. 7. 

Thought. — The devotion which we 
know we feel — sensible devotion — is 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 



91 



useful ; but it is also useful and impor- 
tant that we should be deprived of it. 
It behooves us to know Avhat we are, 
and what is our w^orth when Jesus 
takes away from us His visible help. 
Then must that sensible devotion 
give place to the truly spiritual devo- 
tion ; Jesus must be concealed that 
He may send us His Spirit, which is 
the Holy Ghost. 

Prayer, — Jesus, if Thou takest 
from me Thy sensible presence, do 
not withdraw Thy aid from me ; with- 
out Thee I can do nothing. 

Practice. — Rely always upon Jesus, 
whether He be manifest or hidden. 



Tuesday. 

" Jf I go not, the Paraclete will not eome to you."— 
St. John xvi. 7. 

Thought. — The Apostles must for- 
feit the legitimate and pure satisfac- 
tion which they feel in enjoying the 
visible presence of Jesus Christ, and 



92 A THOUGHT FOR 

I am desirous of enjoying both the 
world and God ! I would unite and 
keep in my heart the spirit of the 
world and the spirit of Jesus ! 

Prayer, — Jesus, draw me away 
from all worldly things. Then with 
the help of the Holy Ghost I shall be 
raised up to Thee. 

Practice, — Detach yourself from all 
that is sensible, even from sensible 
devotion. 

Wednesday. 

" He will convince the world of sin, and of justice, 
and of judgment."— /S'^. John xvi. 8. 

Thought, — This world sinned when 
it crucified Jesus Christ. It will be 
convinced of its sin when Jesus by 
His resurrection shall prove Himself 
to be the Just One. Then also will 
the world be judged and found guilty 
of Deicide. This judgment hangs 
over all those who refuse submission 
to Jesiis Christ. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou art my God, 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 93 

my Saviour, and my King ; I submit 
to Thy word and to Thy guidance. 

Practice. — Ooniidence in Jesus, the 
Conqueror of the world. 

Thursday. 

" He will teach you all truth."— /S^^. John xvi. 13. 

Thought— T^Q Holy Ghost is the 
first of teachers. Let us listen to Him 
when He speaks inwardly by secret 
inspiration, or outwardly by the voice 
of the Church. There is no trutli at 
all useful for the salvation and true 
happinees of the soul which is not 
surely and fully taught by the Holy 
Ghost. 

Prayer, — Jesus, in Thy gospel, and 
especially by Thy example, Thoa hast 
said that Thou dost teach all useful 
truth; but without the Holy Ghost I 
should understand neither Thy word 
nor Thy example. 

Practice. — Frequently invoke the 
Holy Ghost. 



94 a thought for 

Friday. 

" He shall glorify me.'"— St. John xvi. 14. 

Thought.— The Holy Ghost shall 
glorify Jesus ! How ? By teaching 
me to know Jesus, and by persuading 
me to follow Him. By understand- 
ing His doctrine, I shall recognize His 
wisdom ; in imitating his example, I 
shall make manifest his virtue. 

Prayer. — Jesus, fill me w^ith Thy 
Spirit, that I may glorify Thee, make 
Thee known and praised, and cause 
Thee to be loved and served. 

Practice. — In all things seek the 
glory of Jesus. 

Saturday. 

" All things whatsoever Ihe Father hath are mine."— 
St. John xvi. 15. 

Thought, — Everything belongs 
equally to Father, Son, and Holy 
Ghost. Now the Father has given 
us the Son, and the Father and Son 
have given us the Holy Ghost. All 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 95 

that the Father has, then, is ours. 
True, we do not as yet enjoy these 
things; we are like the heir who 
possesses only the title-deeds which 
constitute him owner of the domain 
of which he has not yet the use. 
Let us keep these deeds, and keep 
the grace of God, and our happiness 
is certain. 

Prayer, — Jesus, keep me, or rather 
keep Thyself, in me, either by com- 
munion, which maketh Thee to live 
in me and me in Thee, or by the 
grace of Thy Holy Ghost, which 
gives me life from Thee, by Thee, 
and for Thee. 

Practice. — Union with God the 
Father by Jesus Christ in the Holy 
Ghost. 



96 A THOUGHT FOE 



iFfftI) Juntas after ISasttr, 

" If you ask the Father anything in my name, lie will 
give it to you."— -6^^. John xvi. 23. 

Thought, — This is a formal pro- 
mise. Who will doubt it? '^Any- 
thing you ask." Si quid. Nothing 
is withheld, neither spiritual nor tem- 
poral blessings. Why, then, do you 
ask so seldom, and for so little ? You 
are in want of so many things, and it 
is so easy to obtain them. 

Prayer, — Jesus, what a name is 
Thine ! What power in Thy name 
alone ! I wish it to be ever in my 
heart, and always on my lips. By 
Thy name I can do everything ; in 
the name and for the name ofMesus I 
desire everything. 

Practice, — Pray incessantly, and 
ask everything in the name of Jesus. 



each day of the yeak. 97 
Monday. 

** Aek, and you shal] receive, that your joy may be 
made full."— aS^. John xvi. 24. 

Thought — Nothing rejoices the 
soul so much as prayer. Ask, you 
shall receive more than you have de- 
sired. Thus shall your joy be made 
full. Pray, and experience will tell 
you tliat God is good and powerful. 

Prayer, — Jesus, why should I not 
always ask ? Thy only wish is to 
give. 

Practice, — Pray continually. 

Tuesday. 

" I will show you plainly of the Father. "—/S'^. John xvi. 
^. 

Thought. — Jesus is always speaking 
to us of His Father — ^'word of the 
Father/' ^Mmage of the Father," 
'' brightness of the Father " ; His of- 
fice is to manifest the Father. But 
He often speaks to us in hidden 
terms. He shows the Father to us as 
He is in His works. Let us pray, and 



98 A THOUGHT FOR 

He will show the Father to ns as He 
is in Himself. Then seeing God face 
to face, we shall be like unto Him, 
happy in His happiness, glorious in 
His glory. 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant that all in- 
terior and exterior words of mine 
may be like Thee, the "Word of God ; 
may they serve as a connecting-link 
between the Father and me by the 
purity, uprightness, and divinity of 
intention. 

Practice, — Do all things for the 
love of God only. 

Wednesday. 

" The Father Himself loveth you, because you have 
loved me."— /S'^. John xvi, 27. 

Thought, — To love Jesus is to love 
the Son of God ; to love the Son is to 
love the Father, for the Son should 
be loved solely because he is one and 
the same with the Father. How could 
the Father refuse to love Him by 
whom He is beloved ? Besides, he 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 99 

that loves the Son loves Him whom 
the Father loves. So does the Fatlier 
love you because you love his Be- 
loved. 

JPrayer.-- Jesus, be Thou the cen- 
tre of all my affections. In loving 
Thee I shall love the Father, the 
Blessed Virgin Thy Mother, and 
Thy brethren, for if I love Thee 1 
shall love those who are like Thee, 
who are loved by Thee, and who in 
turn love Thee too. 

Practice. — Have Jesus ever in your 
hearts. 

Thursday. 

" I came forth from the Father, and am come into the 
world."— /S'iJ. John xvi. 28. 

Thought. — Jesus never left His 
Father, was never separated from 
Him ; but He came from the Father 
into this world just as the interior 
word comes forth from the soul in 
order to be heard in the world and 
spread about, thus becoming exterior, 



100 A THOUGHT FOR 

tliougli still dwelling in the soul. In 
speaking, my words gain both the ear 
and the intelligence of those who lis- 
ten and understand me, and vet still 

7 t/ 

remain in me who speak and think. 
Thus the Incarnate Word of God is at 
one and the same time in God, of 
whom He is the Word, and in the 
world to which He shows Himself. 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant that like 
Thee I may come from the Father, 
that like Thee I may be able by my 
word to enlighten souls. 

Practice. — Be united to God in all 
your outward actions. 

Friday. 

'' Again I leave the world, and go to the Father,*'— 
St, John xvi. 28. 

Thought. — To follow the example 
of Jesus, I must, by means of prayer, 
detach myself from the world and 
look up to God. As the Man-God, so 
the man of God runs his course ; from 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 101 

God he comes down into the world, 
and from the world He goes back to 
God. From prayer He descends to 
good works, from good works He re- 
turns to prayer. Love of God engen- 
ders love of our neighbor, who is the 
image of God, and the love of our 
neighbor reflects the love of God. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou dost leave 
the world both for Thyself and for ns. 
For Thyself, that Thou mayest find 
again Thy splendor and Thy glory in 
the Father ; for us, to prepare for us 
a place beside Thy Father. 

Practice. — Raise up your mind by 
constant prayer to God. 

Saturday. 

" Now we know that Thou knowest all things." 
—St. John xvi. 30. 

Thought, — Thou dost read our 
hearts and minds ; Thou answerest 
our demands, our desires, before even 
they are expressed. Thus we know 



102 A THOUGHT FOR 

that Thou knowest all things. Thou 
not only knowest, but canst accom- 
plish all things. Tliy only wish is for 
our good; I will then place all my 
confidence in Thee. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou knowest my 
desires ; but what is better. Thou know- 
est what is fit and needful for me. If 
my desires are not in keeping with 
my wants, if what I ask of Thee is 
not proper, correct my desires and my 
petitions, give me only what I stand 
in need of to serve and glorify Thee. 

Practice, — Place the accomplish- 
ment of your desires in the hands of 
Jesus. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 103 



N.B—We wmild here propose as meditation for the 
seven day ^ following trds feast the Gospel of the As^ 
cension, but give, nevertheless, seven meditations 
upon (he Gospel of the Sunday within the Octave of 
the Ascension. 

" Go ye into the whole world and preach t e'gospel to 
every creature. "~>S'^ Markxvi. 15/ 

Thought. — How can I go into the 
whole world? By prayer and good 
works. We must pray for all man- 
kind, for all nations, for Christians 
and infidels, for the sinful and the 
wicked, as well as for the just, for the 
dead, the dying, and the living. Let 
each one speak according to his con- 
dition, in private and in public, let us 
speak, by word and by writing, an- 
nouncing Jesus to every creature, to 
the impious and to the cold of heart, 
as much as and even more than to the 
faithful and the fervent Cliristian— 
om7ti ereaturoe. Prayer is never of- 
fered in vain, and words spoken are 



104 A- THOUGHT FOE 

never lost : if good, they do good ; if 
evil, they do harm. 

Prayer-.— Jesus, my sole, or at least 
my chief, thought must be to make 
Thee known to those who know Thee 
not, to instil the love of Thee in the 
minds of those who neither serve nor 
know Thee. Grant Thou my prayer, 
give eloquence to my tongue, that 
both the one and the other may be 
efficaciously used in Thy service. _ 

Pmc^ioe.— Spread wide Christian 
doctrine by preaching and in conver- 
sation, by the propagation of good 
books, if you are able ; if not, by the 
propagation of religious works. 

Monday. 

" He that beUeveth^ana^^baptizea,^Bhan be saTed." 

Thought.— li is not sufficient to 
believe ; we must be baptized, and 
tnust observe the law. But baptism 
and observance of the law are not 
sufficient ; we must, besides, have be- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 105 

lief. l!»feither faith without good 
works, nor good works without faith, 
can lead us to salvation. Nor can I 
without God save myself, nor will 
God save me without my co-opera- 
tion. God offers me His grace in 
vain ; unless I accept it, I can never 
profit by His help. In vain He draws 
me to Him ; unless I make the step 
towards Him, I shall never reach. In 
vain does He give Himself to me if I, 
on my part, do not receive Him. 
How can I possess Him if I do not 
unite myself to Him ? 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me light and 
strength — light by faith and by Thy 
divine Word, strength by baptism, 
which fills me with Thy grace. 

Practice. — Believe and act. 

Tuesday. 

** In my name they shall cast out devil8.'"--/S'^. Mark 

xvi. 17. 

Thought. — Let us fathom our 
power as Christians, and learn how to 



106 A THOUGHT FOR 

use it. By a single word we may cast 
out devils^ and still more easily may 
w^e cast out those human agents who 
are much less powerful than the in- 
fernal spirits. Why is not the grand 
and holy name of Jesus ever on our 
lips and in our hearts ? 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant that in mo- 
ments of temptation Thy blessed name 
may be upon my lips. 

Practice, — Oftentimes invoke the 
holy name of Jesus. 

Wednesday. 

"They shall speak with new tongues." — /S'^. Mark 
xvi. 17. 

Thought. — Are you desirous of 
knowing if you have really received 
the Holy Ghost ? Do you speak a new 
tongue? If you live in a worldly 
frame of mind, you are heard to praise 
riches, pleasures, honors. If you live 
in the Holy Ghost, your language will 
be different. You will praise poverty, 
suflFering, abjection, and all that the 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 107 

world despises. You will despise what 
is praised by the world, passing wealth, 
sensual pleasure, worldly glory. 

Prayer, — Jesus, teach me to speak 
like Thee, and for this end teach me 
Thy tongue, give me the language of 
Thy example, of Thy lessons, of Thy 
gospel, and of Thy Cross. 

Practice. — Judge not nor speak 
according to the ideas of the world. 

Thursday. 

*' And the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, 
was taken up into heaven, and sitteth on the right 
hand of God."— aS'^. Mark xvi. 19. 

Thought — Yesterday Jesus was 
nailed upon the Cross, and His ene- 
mies defied Him to descend ; to-day 
He ascends into heaven. Could they 
prevent His ascent, and thus prevent 
His coming down to judge us ! Yes- 
terday Jesus was suspended by three 
nails betwixt heaven and earth ; to- 
day He is sitting tranquilly on the 
right hand of His Father. After 



108 A THOUGHT FOR 

humiliation comes glory, after labor 
comes repose, after suffering there is 

Prayer. — J esus, from the right 
hand of Thy Father where Thou sit- 
test Thou dost descend each day, each 
instant, upon our altars ; Thou dost 
come down into our hearts, to make 
of Thy Church, and of all of us, one 
great body, whose head shall reach to 
the highest heavens. 

Practice, — Dwell in heaven in 
thought, desire, faith, and hope. 

Fkiday. 

" And they (the Apostles), going: forth, preached every- 
where."— /S'^. Mark xvi. 20. 

Thought, — If you love Jesus, you 
will not stand motionless, gazing at 
that point in the heavens where He 
disappeared from your sight. You 
will go forth into the world, and make 
Him known and loved, causing Him 
to reign over all minds by faith, and 
over all hearts by cliarity. There is 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 109 

no repose here below. In heaven we 
shall sit down with Jesus. Mean- 
while, let us keep close to Jesus ; let 
us advance continually, and never lin- 
ger. 

Prayer, — Jesus, be with me, ac- 
cording to Thy promise, until the end 
of the world. Be with me until my 
last hour. Grant that by words, and 
still more by example, I may cause 
Thee to be known and loved. 

Practice, — Speak of Jesus continu- 
ally, and in all places, that He may 
be known and served by all. 

Saturday. 

" The Lord working withal, and crnfirming the word 
with signs that loUowed."— /S^. Mark xvi. 20. 

Thought,' — Unless the Lord works 
with you, your actions will profit 
nothing. If He approves not of your 
word by divine recognition, it will not 
be accepted. Now, what may be the 
signs of divine co-operation and ap- 
proval? Sometimes miracles in the 



110 A THOUGHT FOR 

physical order — for instance, the cur- 
ing of the sick, the resurrection of the 
dead ; but more often miracles in the 
moral order, such as the conversion 
of sinners and the practice of heroic 
virtues. Jesns, in Thy Gospel Thou 
hast revealed to us Thy truths, but 
above all, by Thy example Thou hast 
taught us all things necessary. 

Prayer. — Jesus, help me to make 
Thee known and loved. Experience 
has shown me but too clearly how 
powerless I am without Thy aid. 

Practice, — Count upon divine help 
only for success in good works, and 
yet labor and act as thougli success 
depended only upon your efforts. 



EACH DAY OF THE TEAE. Ill 



Jfettntrafi im'tl^Cn tl^e #ctai)e of 
tije Mnttnnion, 

"But when the Paraclete cometh, whom T will send 
you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth whopro- 
ceedeth from the Father, He shall give testimony 
of me.''— St. John xv. 26. 

Thought — From whence springs 
that intellectual and moral superiority 
of the Christian over the most learned 
and upright pagan ? How is it that 
a child twelve years old knows more 
than the most sublime and most pro- 
found philosopher of pagan Greece 
about God and man, and of the con- 
nection between God and man ? Ac- 
cording to the teachings of faith, the 
Christian receives in baptism the 
Spirit of the Father and the Son, the 
Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Sanctity. 
Be cognisant of your superiority, and 
be not led by the spirit of the world. 

Prayer. — Jesus, replenish in my 
soul the Spirit proceeding from Thee 



112 A THOUGHT FOR 

and from Thy Father. That alone 
can preserve me from the spirit of 
error and falsehood which governs the 
world ; that alone can drive away the 
breath of corruption which covers the 
world. 

Practice. — Follow with docility tlie 
instructions and inspirations of the 
Holy Ghost. 

Monday. 

** He shall give testimony of me."— >S'i^. John xv. S6. 

Thought, — Neither reason nor the 
senses can teach us to know Jesus 
Christ. The Holy Ghost alone dis- 
covers to us the Son of God in the 
Son of man. Are you desirous of 
converting the unbeliever and the 
impious, of awaking the Christian 
spirit in your own soul? Have re- 
course to the teaching of the Gospel 
and of the Church. The Holy Ghost 
inspired the Gospel, and He assists the 
Church. But, above all, remember 



! 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 113 

that faith is a gift. Pray, then, and 
invoke the Spirit of light and truth. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou hast ex- 
plained to us Thy word. Thou hast 
sent us Thy Spirit. How can we re- 
sist this double testimony? My God, 
I do believe, but complete Thy work; 
and since Thy Spirit is not only the 
Spirit of Truth, but also the Spirit of 
Sanctity, grant through it that ray 
life may be spent in conformity with 
Thy word and uiy own belief. 

Practice. — Live like Jesus Christ, 
and you will live by the Holy Ghost. 

Tuesday. 

" And you shall grive me testimony, because you are 
with me from the beginning."— iS'^. John xv. 27. 

Thought. — What honor for poor 
needy sinners, to be called to give 
testimony of Jesus Christ! Surely 
they who already have the testimony 
of the Holy Ghost need not that of 
nameless, worthless men. All the ad- 



114 A THOUGHT FOR 

vantage is on their side. The names 
of these sinners will be more popular, 
more glorious, than the name of an 
Alexander or of a Plato. The glory 
rendered by them to Jesus Christ by 
the testimony of their word and blood 
comes back upon them, and surrounds 
their memory with immortal glory. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I too have been 
with Thee from the first moments of 
my existence, from the hour of bap- 
tism. Grant that my life, still more 
than my words, may be a continual 
witness to the strength of Thy grace 
and of Tliy example. 

Practice, — Have nothing at heart 
but the glory of Jesus Christ ; yon 
will then participate in the splendor 
of His glory. 



Wednesday. 

[ ppoken toyon, 
ized."— /S'^.JoAti 

Thought, — Wherefore are you as- 



ThcBe things have I ppoken to yon, that you may not 
be'scandalized."— /S'^.Jo^Tixyi. 1. 



EACH DAY OF THE TEAR. 115 

tonislied at the tribulations which op- 
press the Church ? wherefore are yon 
scandalized at the persecuiions under- 
gone by the Saints? Was not Jesus 
Christ hated and attacked by all? 
Was there any kind of suffering or in- 
famy that He did not submit to ? ] 
You say God abandons His Church, I 
and delivers His own people to the 
enemy ; so did He abandon His be- 
loved Son, delivering Him to a traitor, j 
to insolent, cowardly judges, to the | 
mob, and to the rabble. But you 
must remember this trial lasted only 
a few hours, sufficiently long, how- 
ever, to show forth the heroism of 
Charity, while the glory of His tri- 
umph shall last for ever and ever. || 

Prayer — Jesus, do not permit mo 
to be scandalized at Tliy Cross. It 
was a royal road to glory for Thee, 
and it cannot be a less royal road for 
Thy Church, for Thy Saints, and for 
myself. 



116 A THOUGHT FOR 

Practice, — Accept suffering and 
humiliation. 

Thursday. 

^' The hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you will 
think that he doth a service to God."— /S'^. Jdhr^ xvi. 2. 

Thought. — And, indeed, in the 
name of law, justice, and morality, 
for the good of nations, in the in- 
terests of religion, and for the honor 
of God's name, enemies to God and 
religion, men lawless and immoral, 
proclaim far and wide the necessity of 
exiling, and even of exterminating, 
priests and religious — of rooting out 
all Christians who are distinguished 
by their opposition to error and vice. 
So, too, did Jesus suffer. In the 
name of the law, for the honor of 
God, and for the benefit of the nation 
was He condemned as blasphemer and 
seducer, and condemned to death. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me the cou- 
rage of a martyr. Our times and coun- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 117 

try still hold out to lis the martyr's 
palm, which may seem to have be- 
longed to the time of Nero, or to the 
countries of Tonquin and Corea. 

Practice. — Endure with patience 
those petty humiliations and suffer- 
ings of each day, and you will be pre- 
pared for great combats. 

Friday. 

" And these things they will do to you, because they 
have not kown the Father nor me."— /S^. Johns.'Ti. 3. 

Thought. — O Lord, they know 
Thee not. They know not that Thou 
art King and Master of the universe, 
and that they are thus unable to es- 
cape Thy judgment. They ignore 
both the Father and Thee. They 
will not recognize in Thee the Son of 
God, born to save tbe world. They 
understand not that in rejecting Thee 
they are lost for ever. If they did 
not persist in ignoring Thee, they 
would readily receive Thy ambas- 



118 A THOrOHT FOR 

sadors; they would be governed and 
saved by Thy Church, 

Prayer. — Jesus, how can I com- 
plain that my intentions are miscon- 
strued and aspersed when I see how 
mankind ignores all that Thy Father 
has done in sending Thee to succor 
them, all that Thou hast done by Thy 
sacrifice upon the Cross, all Thou 
still doest by Thy sacrifice on onr 
altars. 

Practice. — Do good, and expect 
nothing but forgetfulness and con- 
tempt from men. 

Saturday. 

** But these things I have told yon, that when the hour 
of them shall come, you may remember that I told 
you."— /S^. John xvi. 4. 

Thought. — Persecution teaches us 
two things — our weakness and our 
strength; our weahness in ourselves 
and by ourselves ; a few wicked but 
hardened men can silence and frighten 
the good, and can even render them 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 119 

powerless : our strength in God, and 
from God ; for women and children, 
with His help and grace, have de- 
spised the fury of the mob, the power 
of a Caesar. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou art not, like 
the world, given to deceit. The 
world promises honors and pleasures, 
but gives only shame and remorse. 
Thou didst announce the Cross, and 
didst hold by Thy divine word. To 
the Cross Thou didst promise victory, 
and Thy saints are crowned 'with honor 
and glory. 

Practice. — In the midst of suffer- 
ing and humiliation think of the glory 
awaiting you in heaven. 



120 A THOUGHT FOR 



PENTECOST. 



** If any man love me, he will keep my word."— ^^ 
John xiv. 24. 

Thought. — Love consists in the 
union of the lover and the object 
loved. Intelligent beings are united 
by thought and will. Friends think 
alike, their desires are similar. If you 
love Jesus Christ, you must think as 
He thinks, desire what He desires, 
do what He wishes; so you will 
keep His word, and do as He thinks, 
wishes, and desires. AH other love 
is false. 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant me light to 
understand Thy word, and strength 
to accomplish it. 

Practice. — Follow strictly God's 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 121 

commandments, and the particular 
rules of your profession. 



Monday. 

** And my Father will love him."— /S'^. John xiv. 23. 

Thought, — What grace, what glory 
to be loved by God the Father! 
What must I do to obtain this honor ? 
Jesus tells me I must love Him, and 
follow His wishes, and do His bid- 
ding. *'If any man loveth me, he 
will keep my word, and my Father 
will love him." It is not here a ques- 
tion of sentiment or of sublime con- 
templation ; it needs not a great heart 
nor an elevated understanding. Love 
Jesus, believe His word, obey His 
commandments ; then will you be 
friend of the Father, Son, and Holy 
Ghost. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thy word suffices. 
It shall be my light and strength. 

Practice. — Cling to Jesus, by be- 



122 A THOUGHT FOR 

lieving His doctrine and obeying His 
instructions. 

Tuesday. 

** And we will come to him, and will make our abode 
with him." -St. John xiv. 23. 

Thought — I cannot attain the 
height where God is, but I can believe 
what Jesus teaches, and do what He 
commands. On these conditions will 
the Father and Son come unto me. 
I may not dwell in God, but if I only 
believe and accomplish the word of 
Jesus Christ, He will establish His 
dwelling in me. I shall not be in 
heaven, but heaven will be in me, 
which imports the pame* 

Prayer, — Jesus, come and dwell in 
me, that I may dwell in Thee. Thou 
art greater than I, and Thou canst 
only dwell in me by raising me to 
Thyself. From the single fact that 
Thou dwellest in me, I of necessity 
must dwell in Thee. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 123 

Practice. — Dwell in God by 
thought and desire. 

Wednesday. 

" He that loveth me DOt kepeth not my words." — St. 
John XIV. 24. 

Thought. — Do not deceive your- 
self, nor think that you can deceive 
God. If your wishes are not accord- 
ing to the wishes of Jesus — if you do 
not the bidding of Jesua, you love 
Him not, you are not united with 
Him in heart and will. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I love Thee, and 
I desire what Thou desirest ; but I 
am weak, and without Tliy assistance 
I shall not have strength to do Thy 
wishes, which indeed are my wishes 
too. 

Practice. — Fulfil the duties and 
rules of your state of life ; obey your 
superiors, who in their respective 
positions represent Jesus Christ. 



124 a thought for 

Thursday. 

" Bat the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father 
will send in my name. He will teach you all 
thingB.'"—JSL John xiv. 26. 

Thought— The Holy Ghost is the 
Paraclete, or the Consoler, because 
He is the light and the flame. The 
light, for He enlightens the under- 
standing, and dissipates the error 
-which laid it desolate. The flame, for 
He warms and reanimates the heart 
when weakened. 

Prayer. — Jesus, inform me by the 
Holy Ghost of all those things that I 
should do for the glory of Thy Father. 

Practice, — Continual invocation of 
the Holy Ghost. 

Friday. 

*' Peace I leave with yon, my peace I give unto you." 
—St. John xiv. 27. 

Thought, — Peace is the dying be- 
quest of Jesus: peace of mind, con- 
firmed by faith in the word of Jesus ; 
peace of heart, strengthened by chari- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 125 

ty, which consists in obeying the in- 
structions of Jesus Christ, and follow- 
ing the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. 
Such is the order of things, peace is 
the tranquillity of order. 

JPrayer.^ Jesus J Thou alone canst 
give me peace. The world gives only 
disorder, and consequently tumult 
and anxiety. Without Thee I can 
neither obtain nor persevere in that 
tranquillity of disposition which con- 
srtitutes peace. 

Practice, — Seek peace, but only 
through Jesus Christ. 

Saturday. 

"But that the world may know that I love the Father : 
and as the Father has given me commandment, so 
do I. Arise, and let us go hence."— St John xiv. 31. 

Thought, — Love does not show it- 
self by sentiment or by words, but by 
action. Do the bidding of Him you 
love, then will it be known that you 
love Him. Jesus often repeats in the 
gospel this doctrine already made so 



126 A THOUGHT FOR 

evident. Let us not tire of meditat- 
ing upon it, and repeating it to our- 
selves. 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant that I may 
go hence vrith Thee, and quickly and 
generously resolve to do what Thou 
and Thy Divine Father will. 

Practice. — Prompt and entire ful- 
filment of the will of God. 



EACH DAT OF THE TEAK. 127 



^vinits (ti)c first Suntra^ atttv 
Pentecost). 

"In the name of the Father and of the Son and of 
the floiy Ghost.''— /S^. Matthew xxviii. 19. 

Thought, — Created to the image 
and likeness of God, baptized in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Ghost, I am called to 
live for ever in the company of the 
Three Persons of the august Trinity, 
and to share their happiness and 
glory. How can I forget the dig- 
nity of my condition and destiny ? 

Prayer. — O Father, Thou didst 
create me, I consecrate to Thee my 
mind and all my thoughts. O Son, 
Thou didst redeem me, 1 consecrate 
to Thee my memory and my whole 
speech. Holy Ghost, -Thou didst 
sanctify me, I consecrate to Thee my 
will and all my affections. 



128 A THOUGHT FOR 

'Practice, — Do all your actions in 
tlie name of the Father and of the 
Son and of the Holy Ghost. 

Monday. 

**Show us the Father, and it is enough for us."— iS'^ 
John xiv. 8. 

Thought. — God the Father is the 
beginning of the Son and Holy Ghost, 
the beginning of all that is and all 
that can be. He who sees the begin- 
ning sees all, for everything depends 
upon the beginning. Therefore to 
see the Father is to see both the 
Word, which is the wisdom of the 
Father, and the Holy Ghost, which is 
the goodness of the Father and the 
Son. In the Father we see the reason 
for all existing things ; and to see the 
Father is supreme, complete happi- 
ness of the mind and consequently of 
the will. 

Prayer. — Jesus, show us the Fa- 
ther ; reveal him to us below by 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 129 

faith, and in heaven above by the 
light of glory. 

Practice, — Aspire towards God 
alone. 

Tuesday. 

"And the Word was made flesh."— ^S'^. John i. 14. 

Thought, — The Word has become 
like to me, that I may become like 
to Him, not God, but son of God ; 
not son of God by nature, but by 
adoption; so shall I partake of the 
glorious happy life of the divine na- 
ture. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Word made flesh, 
true God, and true son of God and of 
Mary, obtain for me from Thy Father, 
and grant me from Thyself, the grace 
of resembling Thee and Thy word, of 
representing Thee in my life, of speak- 
ing of Thee continually in my dis- 
course, just as Thou art, the represen- 
tative, the splendor of the glory of 
Thy Father, the word, the echo, and 



130 A THOUGHT FOR 

the wisdom of supreme understand- 
ing. 

Practice. — Imitate Jesus in your 
thoughts, words, and actions. 

Wednesday. 

** Thou Shalt send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be 
created ; and Thou shalt renew the lace of the 
earth."— Psa^m ciii. 30. 

Thought. — Vainly the Father cre- 
ates me, vainly the Son redeems me, 
if the Holy Ghost comes not down to 
me, I am chaos, a body without life. 
It is by the working of the Holy 
Ghost that this chaos becomes a 
world, that this body receives life, 
that this soul lives by grace, and that 
the death of sin gives place to super- 
natural life. 

Prayer. — Jesus, send forth unto 
me Thy Spirit, the Spirit of Thy Fa- 
ther, which will enlighten my under- 
standing and strengthen my will. 
Without It I am incapable of a single 
good thought, of one good desire. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK, 131 

Practice, — Invoke the Holy Gliost 
at the commencement of your princi- 
pal actions. 

Thursday, Corpus Christi. 

** For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink 
indeed."— 6'^. John vi. 56. 

TJwiight, — The body and blood of 
Jesus Christ are inseparable from His 
divinity. This flesh, then, is divine 
nourishment, and this blood is divine 
drmk. But this nourishment, this 
drink, is not transformed into our 
substance to live by our life, but it 
transforms us into its substance, that 
we may live by the divine life of 
Jesus Christ. 

Prayer. — Jesus, be Thou my life 
— ^life of my mind, for Thou art truth 
and wisdom^ — life of my will, for Thou 
art all love and goodness. 

Practice, — Unite your intentions 
to those of the heart of Jesus, that 
yon may keep in you the divine life 



132 A THOUGHT FOR 

which you have received by Holy 
Communion. 

Friday. 

*'He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, 
ahideth in me, and I in him."— /Si. John vi. 57. 

Thought. — As the soul is in the 
body and the body is in the soul, and 
as the soul keeps and really maintains 
the body more than the body does the 
soul, so after Communion I am in 
Jesus, and Jesus is in me He sus- 
tains and reanimates me, restores new 
life within me, deifies me, preserving 
in me at the same time my natural 
life and power. 

Prayer, — Jesus, dwell in me, and 
permit me to be Thy agent, as my 
body is the agent of my soul ; grant 
that all my actions may be performed 
for Thee, that I may live only in 
Thee. 

Practice. — Be guided and govern- 
ed by J esus. 



each day of the year. 133 
Saturday. 

" As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the 
Father ; so he that eatetli roe, the game also shall 
live by me."— /S^. John vi. 58. 

Thought — As tlie Word, Christ 
Jesus lives the life of the Father ; as' 
man. He lives the human life, and 
also the divine life, which, as the 
Word, He received from His Father, 
and which He Himself communicates 
to His humanity. Nourished in Holy 
Communion by the body and the 
blood, by the soul and the divinity, of 
Jesus, I shall live both in His human 
and divine life. 

Prayer. — Jesus, give me life from 
Thy life, thoughts from Thy thoughts, 
desires from Thy desires, love from 
Thy love, suffering and actions from 
Thy suffering and actions. 

Practice. — Spend your life in con- 
formity with the life of Jesus. 



134 A THOUGHT FOR 



Secontr Suntrag after jpentecost. 

" This is the bread that came down from heaven."— 
iSt. John vi. 59. 

Thought. — The Word made flesh is 
the bread, the nourishment of the 
soul — bread of the intelligence, for it 
is truth — savory bread, for it is wis- 
dom — bread of the will, for it is the 
life, the origin of every movement, of 
every energy and virtue. 

Prayer, — Jesus, thou art the light, 
the wisdom, the virtue from on high 
—Thou art the life ! If I follow Thee 
not, I wander from Thee. Thou art 
truth; if I believe Thee not, I de- 
ceive myself. Thou art the life ; if I 
am not united to Thee, then I die. 

Practice. — Every day I eat material 
food, so every day should I partake of 
heavenly food by Holy Communion, 
or at least by spiritual Communion. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 135 

Monday. 

" Not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead."— 
JSt. John vi. 59. 

Thought. — And yet this manna was 
sent from heaven-r-a gift of God, but 
not God Himself. The purest and 
most heavenly of divine gifts are una- 
ble to satisfy the soul ; God alone 
can stay that hunger, that thirst after 
infinite, eternal good which torments 
us. God alone is the life of the in- 
tellect and the will. 

Prayer, — Jesus, all that is not like 
to Thee is like to the dewdrop, which 
a ray of sunlight destroys. Thou 
alone canst satisfy me. 

Practice, — Do not be contented 
when you receive consolation ; seek 
repose in Jesus, and in Jesus only. 

Tuesday. 

" He that eateth this bread shall live for ever/'—zS^. 
John vi. 59. 

Thought, — The life of man consists 
in the perfect union of the soul both 



136 A THOUGHT FOR 

with God and the body. Tliere is 
some power which the soul may not 
exercise without the body. The in- 
telb'gence and the will are not satis- 
fied without a full knowledge and 
love of God. Eternal life is the irre- 
vocable, indissoluble union of the soul 
with God and the body. Jesus guar- 
antees us this eternal and complete 
life by Holy Communion. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou art the 
Bread of Life, the life of the mind, 
for Thou art the Word — the Word 
of Truth; life of the will, for Thou 
art the splendor of the glory of the 
Father; the reflection of Divine 
Beauty ; the life of the senses and the 
body, for Thou art the Resurrection. 

Practice. — Often unite your actions 
to those of Jesus. 

Wednesday. 

" Take ye and eat."— 1 C(/r. ii. 24, 

Thought. — Jesus commences the 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 137 

mystery of His union with us, and 
will accomplish it ; but we must re- 
spond to His call by making at least 
an effort to take and receive the di- 
vine food which He offers — Accipite^ 
take ye, et manducate, and eat. 

Prayer, — Jesus, teach me to reply 
^ to Thy invitation by an ardent desire 
to receive Thee, and to become united 
to Thee. 

Practice. — Think of your past 
Communion, and look forward to 
the future Communion. 

Thursday. 

*' This is my body ; . . . this chalice is the new testa- 
ment in my blood/'— 1 Cor, xi. 24, 25. 

Thought, — Under the appearance 
of bread I receive and partake of the 
body of Jesus ; under the appearance 
of wine I receive and drink the blood 
of Jesus. United with Jesus, and 
transformed into Him, my life will be 
like that of Jesus, a Christian and 
divine life. 



138 A THOUGHT FOR 

Prayer, — Thou art mine, and I am 
Thine. Live Thou in me, that I may 
dwell in Thee. 

PraGtice. — Let us incessantly re- 
member how great is the dignity to 
which we are raised by Holy Commu- 
nion. 

Feiday, Feast of Sacked Heart. 

** One of the soldiers with a spear opened His side." — 
St. John xix. 34. 

Thought. — Behold now that heart 
which has loved mankind so dearly, 
and received only indifference or out- 
rage in return ! And yet, what does 
this heart ask in exchange ? My heart 
— nothing more, but nothing less. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I give Thee my 
heart — that is, my will, my liberty, 
my love, my strength; and it is to 
my interest to do this, for all that is 
not consecrated to Thee is lost for all 
eternity. 

Practice. — Unite all your inten- 
tions to those of Jesus Christ. 



each day of the year. 139 
Saturday. 

*^ Put me as a seal upon Thy heart, as a seal upon 
Thy arm."— C'a/i^. viii. 6. 

Thought. — Wax takes the impres- 
sion of the seal ; so shall my heart 
take the impression of the heart of 
Jesus. His wishes shall be my wishes. 
His love shall be my love. Thus 
shall mv arm receive from the heart 

c/ 

of Jesus strength, movement, action, 
being ; and thus fortified, my actions 
shall agree with those of Jesus. 

Prayer. — Jesus, by Thy heart be 
Thou the centre, the mover of all my 
actions and affections. 

Practice. — Think as Jesus thinks, 
desire what Jesus desires, do as Jesus 
does. 



140 A THOUGHT FOE 



" Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto Him 
to hear Him/'— xSif. Luke xv. 

Thought. — The world looks dowji 
upon the publicans ; Jesus does not 
repel them. Heaven rejects sinners ; 
Jesus allows them to approach Him. 
Whilst there remains in the soul any 
degi'ee, however small, of good-will, 
there is still hope for its salvation. 
O you who are despised by the world 
and rejected by Heaven ! draw near to 
Jesus, hear Him ; there are words of 
pardon for you in the heart of Jesiis. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou art night 
and day upon the altar awaiting my 
visit, ready to gi^ant all my requests, 
all my prayers. Speak, O Jesus ! tell 
me Thy desires ; Thy servant listens. 

Praotice, — Follow with docility the 
inspirations of Jesus. 



each day of the year. 141 
Monday. 

*' And the Pharisees and the Scribes murmnred, say- 
ing, This man receiveth einners, and eateth with 
them:'— St. Luke xv. 2, 

Thoicght, — Jesus, wlio is wisdom 
and goodness itself, escapes not the 
criticism of those who in tlie eyes of 
the world are deemed masters of wis- 
dom and models of virtue, such as 
the doctors of the law and the Phari- 
sees. Let us remember that the dis- 
ciple is not above the Master. 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant that, follow- 
ing Thy example, I may count as 
nothing the murmur and criticisms of 
the world. 

Practice. — Do good, and let the 
world have its say. 

Tuesday. 

** Rejoice with me, bpcanee I have found the sheep 
that was lost."— /Sif. Luke xv. 6. 

Thought, — The good shepherd loves 
all his sheep. Those in the fold run 
no danger, therefore they do not ex- 



142 A THOUGHT FOR 

cite solicitude and anxiety. It is differ- 
ent with that sheep which has strayed 
from the flock ; she is lost unless the 
Shepherd find her again. The joy in 
finding makes up for the pain caused 
by the anxiety of the search. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I lose myself at 
every instant by following my 
thoughts and my caprices when I 
should follow and imitate Thee. 
Where should I be this day hadst 
Thou not sought me out whenever I 
was lost ? 

Practice, — Contrition and confi- 
dence. 

Wednesday. 

** I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven 
upon one sinner that doth penance more than 
upon ninety-nine just who need not penance." — 
SL Luke XV. 7. 

Thought, — And why ? because the 
repentant sinner is often more humble, 
more grateful, more fervent than the 
just man who has never sinned ; be- 
cause the sinner's conversion costs 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 143 

God more than the perseverance of 
the just. More of grace is required 
to draw the wicked away from sin 
than to maintain the just in the path 
of virtue. Even if the grace were 
the same, the good result would be 
greater. A gift of a hundred pounds 
is a greater gift for a poor man than 
for a rich man. 

Prayer, — Jesus, help me to atone 
by fervor for the faults of my past life. 

Practice, — Work for the conversion 
of sinners. 

Thursday. 

" Or what woman having ten groats, if she should lose 
one groat, doth not light a candle."— >iS^. John xv. 8. 

Thought, — When we lose some 
grace, we should light our lamp, and 
examine our conscience, to discover 
the cause of this infidelity. 

Prayer, — Jesus, teach me to value 
the least of Thy favors, and never to 
lose even one of those groats which 
Thou hast confided to me. 



144: A THOUGHT FOR 

Practice. — Continual watchfulness 
and care. 

Friday. 

**She (doth) sweep the house."— /Sif. Luke xv. 8. 

Thought, — Would you recover lost 
grace and fervor in God's service % 
Then examine your conscience, purity 
it of its smallest faults, sweep out the 
dust that prevents you from seeing; 
desti*oy those cobwebs, those vicious 
affections, which harass the liberty of 
your heart. 

Prayer, — Jesus, seek me Thyself 
when I wander from Thee and am 
lost. I shall never recover Thee, and 
return to Tliee, without Thy aid. 

Practice, — Make a faithful examin- 
ation of conscience. 

Saturday. 

" And (doth) seek diligently until she find iV—St. 
Luke XV. 8. 

Thought, — You lose some precious 
object, say a piece of money, and you 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 145 

give yourself no rest until it is recov- 
ered. You lose the grace of God by 
mortal sin, or you lose some portion 
of that divine gift by venial sin ; do 
you regret this loss ? Do you hasten 
to repair the loss ? 

Prayer, — Jesus, help me to recover 
by my diligence the numberlcK^s graces 
I have lost during my lifetime. 

PractiGe.^-T>o all tilings well, such 
is the secret — firstly, never lose a sin- 
gle instant ; secondly, make up for 
lost time. 



146 A THOUGHT FOR 



iFotttti) <Sttntra5 after J^entecost. 

•* When the multitude pressed upon Him to hear the 
word of God, He stood by the Lake of Genesareth." 
—jSL Luke V. 1. 

Thought. — Do you desire popu- 
larity ? Then preach of God. God 
alone interests all men, and especially 
the crowd, which is mostly composed 
of the unfortunate. Popularity ac- 
quired by flattering the passions is of 
a diflferent sort, fatal botli to the peo- 
ple and to him who has recourse to it. 
We do not save our souls by damning 
the soul of our neighbor. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou seekest the 
people, not popularity. M ipse stahat. 
Thou dost not stoop to beg favor of 
the public. No ; Thou standest up 
— stahat. Fill me with the like calm- 
ness and firmness. 

Practice. — Be calm in the midst of 
the world. 



\ 



each day of the year. 147 
Monday. 

*' And going up into one of tlie ships that was Simon's, 
He desired him to draw back a little from the land; 
and sitting, He taught the multitudes out of the 
ship."— /S'^. Luke v. 3. 

Thought. — Jesus seats Himself, 
and takes possession of Simon' s ship. 
So shall He one day seat Himself in 
the religious societj^ of which Peter 
shall be the head, and there preach 
to the people. He desires that the 
ship be drawn back a little from the 
land. The Church should be some 
distance from the earth — i.e., separ- 
ated from material and temporal in- 
terests. Let the distance be not too 
great, lest Jesus be not heard. Man 
lives upon the earth, and is busied 
with earthly concern ; the Church, 
without setting value on such things, 
must understand what man is per- 
mitted, nay, even commanded, to do, 
for the cares and sustenance of daily 
life. 

Prayer. — Jesus, may I never be 



148 A THOUGHT FOR 

separated from St. Peter, for whilst 
with him I shall also be with Thee. 

Practice, — Docility to the doctrine 
of the Church. 

Tuesday. 

' * Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets 

for a draught."— aS'^. Luke v. 4. 

Thought, — With Jesus we may 
risk our lives upon the deep. There 
is nothing to be feared ; success is cer- 
tain. Let us advance, but under con- 
duct of our Leader. To Peter only 
does Jesus say, due — command — lead 
the way ; to all the rest, laxate retia^ 
cast your nets. They are to work 
and help Peter. 

Prayer. — Jesus, inspire nie with 
some bold, generons thought, and 
teach me to participate in Thy glory 
by the salvation of souls. 

Practice, — Let us try to take and 
save those souls which lose themselves 
in the sea of this world. 



each day of the tear. 149 
Wednesday. 

" We have labored all night, and have taken nothing ; 
but at Thy woid I will let down the net."— /S'^. Luke 
V. 5. 

Thought, — TV hen I labor without 
Jesus, I labor in the dark ; when I 
labor with Jesus, I labor in the light. 
When I work with a human motive, 
mj labor is unsuccessful ; when it is 
by the order of Jesus, success is cer- 
tain. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I will undertake 
nothing without Thee, or without 
Thy order. 

Practice, — Offer up your inten- 
tions at the beginning of each action, 

Thursday. 

** They enclosed a very s:reat number of fishes/'— /8^«,. 
Luke V. 6. 

Thought, — Obedience and faith are 
the two things necessary for success. 
But inspirations of faith and orders of 
obedience must be merited by per- 
severance in a hard and, what at 



150 A THOUGHT FOR 

times may appear, useless labor. We 
can do nothing without grace. But 
God will not grant us this grace until 
by the failure of our efforts we are con- 
vinced of our weakness. 

Prayer, — Jesus, when wilt Thou 
address to me that word which re- 
wards effort and assures success ? 

Practice. — Refer the results of 
your labor to God alone. 

Friday. 

" Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.'*— 
m. Luke V. 8. 

Thought. — At the sight of this 
miraculous draught Simon, recogniz- 
ing the divinity of Jesiis, considers 
himself unworthy to remain any 
longer in his presence. Success in 
our labors, far from exalting us, 
should fill us with a sense of our own 
unworthiness. 

Prayer. — Jesus, come to me, dwell 
in me, solely because I am a sinner, 



EACH DAY OF THE YKAK. 151 

and because without Thee I can do 
nothing for Thy glory, for tlie salva- 
tion of souls, or for my own salva- 

^''^ Practice. - Do not attribute to 
yourself the success of your own 
efforts. 

Satukbay. 

the first graces sent you by Grod. 
Eefer all the glory of your success to 
Him. This first success, this lirst 
favor, will be as nothing to the gifts 
and fruits which will reward your 
fidelity and humility. So tlie miracu- 
Ls draught with which Peter was 
rewarded was but a symbol ot the 
draught, far more miraculous, whicli 

he wts to make by one single sermon 

when he converted three thousand 

persons to Jesus Christ. 

^ Prayer.— 3 esus, grant me grace to 



152 A THOUGHT FOR 

deserve by my faithfulness in little 
things the glory of converting many 
souls to Thee. 

Practice, — Labor and pray for the 
salvation of souls. 



EACH DAY OF THE TEAR. 153 



iFifti) Sttntras after Pentecost. 

** Unless your jas^-ice abound nnre than that of the 
Scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into 
the kingdom of heaven."'— aS^. Matthew v. 30. 

Thought, — Why so? Because the 
perfection of these men was only on 
the surface — mere hypocrisy and 
vanity. Pagans even have allowed 
that the truly just man is not satis- 
lied with merely appearing just. 

Prayer. — Jesus, help me to de- 
spise human judgment, teach me to 
do nothing on account of the esteem 
or the contempt of man. 

Practice. — Have Jesus ever before 
you. 

Monday. 

" You have heard that it was said to them of old."— 
St. Mattheio v. 21. 

Thought. — Jesus repeats the law of 
Moses, and after restoring to it its 
former perfection. He raises it still 



154 A THOUGHT FOB 

higher. God works on the same 
plan, ever improving His work. Con- 
stancy and progress ! Advance, but 
advance always in the same direction, 
otherwise your progress will be use- 
less. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me firmness 
to adhere to the resolutions which 
Thou inspirest me with ; so that, being 
docile to thj^ new inspirations, I may 
always walk in the same path. 

Practice. — Firmness of resolution. 

Tuesday. 

" Thou Shalt not kill. . . . Whosoever phall kill shall 
be in danger of the judgment.'*— /S'^. Matthew v, 21. 

Thought, — ^If it be a sin to take 
the life of the body, what a crime it 
must be to deprive the soul of life 
and eternal happiness, by the scandal 
of word or of example ! We should 
never forgive ourselves were we to 
cause death to a fellow- creature by an 
act of inprudence. How many words 



EACH DAT OF THE TEAE. 



155 



fall from our lips, how many actions 
do we not perform, which have more 
fatal effect upon souls than any im- 
prudence could have upon the body^ 
Pmy^r.— Jesus, grant that I may 
never scandalize, by my negligence 
or by my folly, one of those for whom 
Thou didst die upon the Cross. 

Practice.— Watch over your words 
and actions, watch over all thmgs 
that might scandalize any person, 
especially the weak-minded ones. 

Wednesday. 

" Bat I say to yon, that whosoever is aigry with hU 
^ brothJr shall be in danger of the judgment. -St. 

Mattkev) V. 22. 

Thought.— Anger does not repair 
an offence committed ; it hurts him 
who gives way to it much more than 
it hurts him whom it threatens, for it 
blinds and carries man away, depriv- 
ing him of the use of reason and 
liberty, and changing the man into 
the brute. 



156 A THOUGHT FOR 

Prayer. — Jesus, meek and humble 
of heart, calm within me all senti- 
ments opposed to charity ; teach me 
to forgive and forget injuries. 

Practice, — Guard against the first 
impulses of anger. 

Thursday. 

"And whosoever shall say to his brother, Racca, 
shall be in danger of tne council. "—^S'^. Matthew 
V. 23. 

Thought. — Anger whicli is dis- 
played is generally more sinful than 
anger which is felt but not shown. 
It is already judged, and it only re- 
mains to inflict the punishment. 
Watch over your words, and never 
let one word escape you that is con- 
trary to tlie charity and respect due 
to your brother. 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant me so great 
a command over my speech that I 
may never wound my neighbor. 

Practice. — Be silent when you feel 
anger in your heart. 



each day of the year. 157 
Friday. 

" And whosoever shall say, Th-u fool, shall he in dan- 
ger of hell fire."— /S'^. Matthew v. 22. 

Thought,— Godi is severe towards 
the man who insults his fellow-man, 
for man is the image of God. To 
" insult " the image of God is to in- 
sult God in His image. 

Prayer. — Jesus, teach me to un- 
derstand the dignity of man, for 
whom Thou thoughtest tit to die. 

Practice,— Rq^^qq^ for your neigh- 
bor. 

Saturday. 

" Go first to he reconciled to thy hrother."— /S^. Mat- 
thew V. 24. 

Thought.— Vi }'0\\ love God, love 
His work — His chef-d'oeuvre — ^i^ 
likeness ; if you desire God's pardon, 
forgive your brother, whose offences 
against you are incomparably lighter 
than are yours against God. 

Prayer. — Jesus, forgive me as I 
forgive, love me as I love— but give 



158 A THOUGHT FOR 

me the grace to forgive and to love as 
Thou hast forgiven and loved. 

Practice. — Forgive and forget in- 
juries. 



EACH DAY OP THE TEAE. 159 



.Sfacti) Suntfas after ipenttcost. 

* 'There was a great multitnd ft, and they had notMng 
to G^L'^—JSt. Mark viii. 1. 

Thoicffht. — When following Jesus 
everything is forgotten in thinking 
of Him. His word so nourishes the 
soul that we think not of bodily 
nourishment. But Jesus forgets not 
those who forget themselves to follow 
Him. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I will hear Thee 
and Thee only. Thy word is truth. 
I will follow Thee only. Tliy exam- 
ple is my road of life. 

Practice. — Forget all things for 
Jesus Christ. 

Monday*. 

"Calling His disciples together, He saith to them: I 
have compassion on the multitude."— aJ?^. Mark 
viii. 1, 2. 

Thought. — We never lose anything 
by forgetting ourselves and by follow- 



160 A THOUGHT FOR 

ing Jesus. His heart is an abyss of 
mercy and His compassion will not be 
sterile. See how He calls His apos- 
tles, how He tells them of His com- 
passion and His solicitude for the un- 
fortunate. 

Prayer. — Jesus, into Thy Heart I 
confide all my miseries, all my cares. 
I w^ill also share Thy solicitude for 
the unfortunate, and especially for the 
multitude. 

Practice, — Confidence in the heart 
of Jesus charity towards the poor. 

Tuesday. 

** Behold they have now been with me three days, and 
have notiiiiig to eat."— /S^. Mark viii. 2. 

Thought. — Constancy is always re- 
warded. When even everything 
shall fail you, when you have no hope 
whatever, follow Jesus, continue to 
pray and listen to Him. He may 
seem to bring you into the desert, and 
leave you there to die of Ininger, but 
leave Him not ; even it it require a 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 161 

miracle. He will do it to reward your 
constancy. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou art my only 
hope, ray sole place of repose, go 
w^here Thou wilt, I will follow Thee. 

Praotice, — Confidence in Jesus 

Wednesday. 

"From whence can any one fill them here with bread 
in the wilderness. "—/S'^. Mark vili. 4. 

Thought. — God is always at hand 
when our human weakness is proved 
and acknowledged. In order that we 
may succeed, let us do everything in 
our power. God wishes it. We 
must remember, however, that al- 
though we must work, our work will 
be useless without the divine help. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I acknowledge 
that without Thee I am incapable of 
nourishing those souls confided to me 
by Thee. 

Practice. — Mistrust self, confide in 
God. 



162 a thought for 

Thursday. 

** How many loaves have ye ? Who said : Seven."— /Sj{. 
Mark viii. 5. 

Thought. — What are seven loaves to 
feed so many thousand men ? Of 
what use are your poor talents, your 
ordinary virtues, for the salvation of 
souls ? How can you by yourself, or 
even with several to help you, con- 
tend against multitudes of unbeliev- 
ers % Granted you can do little, yet 
you can do something. Begin, then, to 
do that little, and God will do the 
rest, and by your hand, and by your 
working, He will multiply the little 
you have done. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I give and con- 
fide to Thy Heart the little that I 
know, and the little that T am able to 
do ; with Thee, who out of nothing 
workest miracles, I shall know and do 
all things. 

Practice, — Do what you are able. 



^ach day of the year. 163 
Friday. 

"And taking the seven loaves, ... He gave to 
His disciples for to set before them.''— St. Mark 
viii. 6. 

Thotight. — Jesus has no need of 
our help to feed the hungry or en- 
lighten the ignorant; but, wishful to 
associate us with His glory, He deigns 
to borrow our assistance. He re- 
serves what seems impossible to Him- 
self, and asks of us what is easily per- 
formed; the impossible action is the 
multiplying of the loaves ; nothing is 
more easy than to receive them from 
the hands of Jesus and serve them to 
the people. 

Prayer, — Jesus, when wilt Thou 
deign to employ me in Thy service 
and in that of my neighbor ? 

Practice, — Respond faithfully to 
the inspirations of grace. 

Saturday. 

" And they did eat and were filled."— /S'i. Mark viii. 8. 

Thought, — Happy are those who 



164 A THOUGHT FOR 

forget everything and follow Jesus. 
Jesus takes upon Himself to feed and 
satisfy them. Happy they who con- 
fide in the tender care of the heart of 
Jesus. The desires of their heart shall 
be more than accomplished. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou dost keep 
me waiting for the graces which I ask 
of Thee ; but Thou wilt grant them, 
I believe it, and I hope it. Thou wilt 
not only grant me all I desire, but 
more even than I dare to hope for. 

Practice. — Renew your confidence 
in Jesus by oft-repeated acts. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 165 



Sebtnti) Suntrag after J^rntecoist 

'*■ Beware of false prophets."— /S'if. Matthew yu, 15, 

Thought. — The false prophet is 
worse than the thief or the assassin. 
The malefactor, at least, does not de- 
clare evil to be good. It is possible 
to lead back to virtue the man who 
commits evil through passion. But 
that man who teaches evil, whose 
mind is as corrupted as his heart, can 
only be converted by a double miracle. 

Prayer, — Jesus, thou hast been as 
severe towards false preachers as Thou 
hast been kind towards the sinner. 
Fill me with a holy hatred of error 
and falsehood. 

Practice. — Combat error with un- 
flagging zeal. 

Monday. 

*' Who come to you in the clothing of sheep." — SU 
Matthew vii. 15. 

Thought. — The wicked man does 



166 A THOUGHT FOR 

not show himself in his true colors. 
He is too liideous, he is too cunniDg. 
Error puts on the mask of truth, vice 
adopts a virtuous aspect. The wolf 
dresses himself in sheep's clothing, and 
the simple are deceived. 

Prayer. — Jesus, give me the sim- 
plicity of the dove, but give me also 
the prudence of the serpent — simpli- 
city to think ill of no one, prudence 
to mistrust and recognize the de- 
ceiver. 

Practice, — Judge no one either for 
good or evil without proofs attesting 
good or evil. 

Tuesday. 

'* By their fruits you shall know them.' — St. Matthew 
vi. 16. 

Thought. — As soon as a man pro- 
fesses to teach falseliood and evil, he 
is jiidijjed. He that habitually speaks 
against reason or iaitli is a sophist, an 
infidel, or a fool. A man should not 
be thought good simply because his 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 167 

words are good. Sometimes the se- 
ducer quotes fine maxims, the better 
to deceive. Wait until his words are 
proved by his actions — then judge 
him. 

Prayer. — Jesus, teach me to mis- 
trust those who belie their words by 
their conduct. 

Practice. — Actions are better than 
words. 

Wednesday. 

** Do men gather grapes of thorns ? "— /Sif. Matthew 
vii. 16. 

Thought, — False prophets and so- 
phists are like to thorns. Subtle and 
artful, they penetrate into souls, but 
only to prick like thorns. Uneasi- 
ness and remorse, such are the fruits 
of the words of these false, wicked 
men. 

Prayer, — Jesus, why may I not la- 
bor with Thee to extirpate sophism 
and impiety, which corrupt both the 
mind and the heart. 



168 A THOUGHT FOR 

Practice. — Combat against bad doc- 
trine. 

Thursday. 

"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neii^er 
can an evil tree bring forth good fruit. "-^^. Mat- 
thew vii. 18. 

Thought.— The good tree is typical 
of the soul grafted upon Jesus Olirist, 
and living of His life, the soul whose 
sap is the grace of God. Works pro- 
duced by the influence of Jesus Christ 
and of His Spirit, which is the Holy 
Ghost, are fruits of supernatural and 
eternal life. The evil tree represents 
the soul cut off from Jesus Christ by 
gin— living and acting under the in- 
flnence of the evil spirit, or at least 
living by the sole virtue of corrupted 
nature. How, then, can such works 
be good? 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant that I may 
live by Thy life, grant that all my 
actions may spring from Thee. 

Practice. — Unite your actions to 
those of Jesus. 



each day of the year. 169 
Friday. 

" Every tree ttiat bringeth not forth good fruit shall 
be cut do WD, and shall be cast into the fire."— /^i. 
Matthew vii. 19. 

Thought. — What are good fruits ? 
Fruit is the most useful and pleasing 
product of the tree. Nothing is use- 
ful and pleasing which does not draw 
us towards God, who is the only true 
good. Every action that does not 
tend towards God is useless and only 
worthy to be cast into the fire — i,e,, 
the fire of purgatory if venial sin, the 
fire of hell, if mortal sin. 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant that by Thy 
help everything in me may tend to- 
wards Thy Father. 

Practice, — Let your intentions be 
pure and upright in everything. 

Saturday, 

** Wherefore by their fruits you ehall know them."— 

St. Matthew vii. 20. 

Thought, — Our actions should cor- 
respond with our sentiments. Faith 



170 A THOUGHT FOR 

without good works is a dead faith, 
faith without charity is a deformed 
faith. Charity is essentially active. 
Do not say that you love God and 
your neighbor unless you really de- 
sire the glory of God and the good 
of your neighbor. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me the 
strength, and procure me the op- 
portunity, to prove to Thee my faith 
and my love by works and by fruits. 

Practice. — Let no day pass with- 
out doing some good work. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 171 



32ifli)ti) cSuntras after l^tntttanU 

*' There waa a certain rich man who had a steward."— 
St. Jjake xvi. 1. 

Thought, — This rich man is Grod — 
I am tlie steward. I have received a 
soul, a body, and my share of the 
world, in fact all that I might expect 
from Him, and I must render him an 
account. To God I must render the 
account and the product, of all my 
knowledge, possessions, power, and 
actions. 

Prayer, — Jesus, in Thy Sacred 
Heart 1 place my thoughts, words, and 
actions. Take everything, and offer 
Thou me to Thy Heavenly Father. 

Practice. — Refer all your actions 
to the glory and service of God. 



Monday, 

9 accused ni 
goods."— /S^. 

Thought, — I have wasted the goods 



And the same was accused nnto him, that he had 
wasted his goods."— /S^. Luke xvi. 1 



172 A THOUGHT FOR 

confided to me by God. Who can 
calculate the losses occasioned by one 
sin? One single mortal sin is suffi- 
cient to deprive me of heaven and 
God. One single venial sin, hov^ever 
slight, suffices to deprive me of a de- 
gree of grace equivalent to a degree 
of eternal glory. 

Prayer, — Jesus, how long will my 
negligence and selfishness rob Thee 
of the glory Thou hast a right to 
expect from each of my actions ? 

Practice, — Do all things well, for 
the glory of God. 

Tuesday. 

** Give an account of thy stewardship."— /S^^. Luke 
xvi. 2. 

Thought, — What account, O God 
can I give Tliee ? What have I done 
for Thy glory ? What have I done 
for my own sanctification ? Thinking 
only of self, loving only self, I have 
not even understood my own inte- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 173 

rests, or if I did understand them, I 
have not acted accordingly. 

Prayer, — Jesus, teach rae each day 
to render both to myself and to Thee 
an exact account of my faithfulness in 
Thy service. 

Practice. — Examine your con- 
science daily. 

Wednesday. 

"For now thou canst be steward bo longer. ''—/S'iJ- 
Luke xvi. 2. 

Thought, — Why does God allow 
you to be taken away from a certain 
position where you could labor for 
His glory and the salvation of souls ? 
Because by your negligence you have 
not made good use of the situation, 
or because through your vanity yon 
have made use of it solely for your 
own personal satisfaction ; God then 
withdraws from you His confidence, 
""and the care of His affairs — Jam non 
jpoteris villicare. 



174 A THOUGHT FOE 

Prayer. — Jesus, cast me not alto- 
gether aside, permit me to strive a 
little longer for Tliy glory and in Thy 
service. 

Practice, — When there is question 
of serving God, lose not one moment, 
not one opportunity. 

Thursday. 

** For the children of this world are wiser in their 
generation than the cl^ldren of light."— aS'*/. Luke 
xvi. 8. 

Thought, — The children of this cen- 
tury unite to deceive and to destroy ; 
the children of light either remain in- 
different in the face of impiety, or, 
instead of helping one another and 
uniting against the enemy, are divided 
and are fighting amongst themselves. 
The children of the world are for 
ever fettering the children of light by 
every means in their power; the chil- 
dren of light allow the children of the 
world to spread error and scandal. 

Prayer, — Jesus, endow Thy ser- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 175 

vants with energy and prudence — 
prudence to mistrust Thy enemies, 
energy to combat them. 

Practice. — Display the same ac- 
tivity for truth, for good, for the 
Church, as the wicked display for 
falsehood, for evil, and for hell, 

Friday. 

" Make unto you friends of the mammon of iniqui- 
ty."— >S'^. Luke xvi. 9 . 

Thought — Worldly goods have no 
value unless they are employed for 
the glory of God, and the salvation 
of souls. Health, strength, talent, 
virtue, grace, all these gifts which we 
receive, should be used for the good 
of man ; and this good consists of 
union with God through a knowledge 
and love of Him. 

Prayer. — Jesus, teach me that hea- 
ven is the lot of those who are de- 
voted to the service of their neighbor, 
and that eternal fire awaits the selfish. 



176 A THOUGHT FOR 

who, like the bad rich man, are only 
busied with themselves. 

Practice, — When a day passes in 
which you have rendered no service 
to your neighbor, say with Titus, "I 
have lost a day." 



Saturday. 

"He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful 
in that which is greater."— aS^. Lnike xvi. 10. 

Thought. — It is easy then to be- 
come holy. For in little things I 
cannot excuse myself on account of 
my weakness. I cannot pass the 
whole day in prayer, but I may pray 
carefully for one-quarter of an hour. 
I cannot imitate the austerities of a 
Saint Antony, but I may abstain from 
some little sensualitv, some useless 
word. I have it not in my power to 
travel in the East like St. Francis 
Xavier, but I can speak a kind word 
to this friend, to that poor person, to 
that sick man. Thus by these small, 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 177 

easy actions I shall become capable 
of heroic actions. 

Prayer, — Jesus, nothing is little in 
Thy service, nothing is little when 
Thou dost desire it. 

Practice — Perform a good work, 
make a little sacrifice, or say a kind 
wordj at least once a day. 



178 A THOUGHT FOR 



Wmti) Suntras after l^tntttout 

"Ifthoahadst kaown, and that in this thy day, the 
things that are to thy peace."— /S'^. Luke xix. 42. 

Thought, — Jesus desires our happi- 
ness. Why do we resist His desires ? 
Let Him establish His reign in our 
hearts. As a reward for the little 
services He asks of us. He will fill 
our soul with abundance of peace and 
consolation. 

Prayer, — Jesus, enter into my 
heart ; reign there ; dispose of it 
according to Thy own good plea- 
sure. I know Thou only desirest my 
welfare. 

Practice, — Faithfully obey inspira- 
tions from above. 



Monday. 

lidden from tt 
xix. 42. 

Tliought, — We often do not under- 



But now they are hidden from thy eyes."— /S'if. Luke 
xix. 42. 



EACH DAY OF THE TEAR. 179 

stand things because we have no de- 
sire to understand them. Jerusalem 
did not recognize the Saviour by Ilis 
word or by His miracles, because she 
closed her eyes to the light. When 
God in His providence shows us His 
designs, let us obey His will and ac- 
complish it. Experience will teach 
us that the divine ways are the ways 
of mercy. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I rely entirely 
upon Thy wisdom and bounty for all 
that concerns me. 

Practice. — Blind confidence in Je- 
sus. 

Tuesday. 

"Thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee."— /S'^. 
Luke xix. 43. 

Thought. — The enemies of the soul 
are the flesh, the devil, and the world. 
The flesh surrounds the soul with sen- 
suality, the world besieges it with hu- 
man respect, the demon completes the 
work of these two by sin. The soul. 



180 A THOUGHT FOR 

once a slave to the senses, no longer 
accepts the help of grace ; if a slave 
to human respect, it dares not follow 
the call of reason ; if a slave to sin, it 
loses everything in losing God. 

Prayer. — Jesus! the example of 
Jerusalem teaches me that the soul 
which does not acknowledge Thy roy- 
alty becomes the slave and prey of her 
enemies. 

Practice. — Serve Jesus if you do 

not wish to serve the world and hell. 

#■ 

Wednesday. 

*' They sTiaU not leave in thee a stone upon a stone/* 
^St. Luke xix. 44, 

Thought, — When sin enters the 
soul it leaves not a stone upon a 
stone. It destroys grace, it falsifies 
reason, it enslaves the will, it corrupts 
the senses. It robs the soul of its vir- 
tues one by one — first of charity, then 
of hope, finally of faith. All moral 
virtues disappear — prudence, justice. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 181 

strength, temperance. Nothing is 
seen in a soul ravished by sin but 
chaos and disorderly ruin. 

Prayer, — Jesus ! be Thou Master 
in my soul, otherwise, if abandoned 
as prey to the passions, it will fall 
into the power of the devil, it will be- 
come a living hell. 

Practice, — Keep guard over your 
heart, especially by examination of 
conscience. 

Thursday. 

''And entering into the temple, He began to cast out 
them that sold therein." — St. Luke xix. 45. 

Thought, — Jesus does not tolerate 
in His temple those who sell animals 
destined to the sacrifice. Would He, 
then, have within His Church those 
who propagate doctrines contrary to 
His Gospel, condemned by His Yicar ? 

Prayer, — Jesus, drive out from 
my soul all worldly-wise calculation, 
which would purchase the liberty of 
saying and doing good by granting to 



182 A THOUGHT FOR 

others the permission to say and do 
ill. 

Practice. — Have no consideration 
for those who profane the sanctity of 
the Church by their doctrine or by 
their conduct. 

Friday. 

" My hou?e is tlie house of prayer."— /SiJ. Luke xix. 46. 

Thought, — My soul should be a 
house of prayer. All my thoughts, 
desires, and actions should tend to the 
service and glory of God. Whenever 
I refer my actions to any other than 
God my soul becomes a den of thieves. 

Prayer, — Jesus ! I consecrate to 
Thee myself, my possessions, my 
power, my actions. 

Practice. — Offer up at different 
times your actions to God. 

Saturday. 

'*And He was teaching daily in the temple."— ^^. 
LuUe xix. 47. 

Thought. — Jesus teaches, but un- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 183 
f 

successfully. His word meets only 
with contradiction ; it does but irri- 
tate the fury of His enemies, confirm- 
ing them in their resolution to destroy 
Him. Jesus nevertheless continues. 
Let us never tire either of repeating 
truth or of combating error, even 
though we convert no one, even 
though we increase the vexation of 
our adversaries. We may, perhaps, 
succumb, but we shall fall martyrs to 
truth, and truth will triumph. 

I^rayer.—Jesns, fill me with con- 
stancy, and let me not be abashed, 
either by seeming failure or by mani- 
fest opposition 

JPractice,- -'ReGommence each day 
whatever you have undertaken for the 
service of God, and never give way to 
discouragement. 



184 A THOUGHT FOR 



^Trnti) Suntra^ after Pentecost. 

" And to pome who trnsterJ in themselves ns just, and 
despise! o hers, He spoke also this parable,"— 
St. Luke XYiii. 9. 

Thought. — The very fact of trusting 
ill one's self, and mistrusting others, 
is an injustice, firstly, towards God, in 
Whom alone we should place our con- 
fidence; and, secondly, towards onr 
neighbor, whom we have no right to 
judge, much less to despise. 

Prayer, — Jesus, enlighten me as to 
Thee, as to my neighbor, and as to 
myself; as to Thee, that I may un- 
derstand that without Thee I am no- 
thing ; as to myself, that I may recog- 
nize my nothingness and my misery ; 
as to my neighbor, that I may open 
my eyes to his merits, and close them 
to his faults. 

Practice, — Mistrust of self and es- 
teem for others. 



each day of the year. 185 
Monday. 

" Two men went up into the temple to pray."— >S'^. 
Luke xviii, 10. 

Thought. — Of these two men, the 
one believes himself to be just, which 
he is not ; the other believes himself 
a sinner, which he is. The former is 
in error, and pride strengthens him in 
it. The latter is in the right, and his 
humility will draw him out of misery. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I come to Thee 
with the knowledge and experience of 
my weakness and misery. My confi- 
dence in the past and in the future is 
in Thee, and in Thee alone. 

Practice. — -Humility in prayer. 

Tuesday. 

*' The Pnarisee standing, prayed thus with himself.'* — 
/S^. Luke xviii. 11. 

Thought, — The proud man stands 
upright before God, and if he prays, 
he prays to himself; he cannot forget 
self. He thinks only of self, esteems 
only, loves only, self. Look at the 



186 A THOUGHT FOK 

worldly man of to-day — be stands up- 
right " Pliarisens stans." If there is 
any advantage, it is in favor of the 
Pharisee of past ages. He did pray, 
thougli very badly. The worldly man 
of to-day never enters a cburcli ; why? 
no one knows. Not only does he not 
bend the knee before God, but, rising 
up with haughty look and bearing, 
he talks, he is wearied, but he prays 
not. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I will bow the 
forehead before Thee, that I may not 
incline it before man. 

Practice, — Be humble before God, 
and you will be firm in the presence 
of man. 

Wednesday. 

*' O God, I give thee thanks that T am not as the rest 
of men."— aS'^. ZwA;exviii. 11. 

Thought, — Thus do I seem to hear 
th© sophists of our times speak, those 
men so self-sufficient, so disdainful, 
so contemning, so convinced that they 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 187 

are the only wise, the only learned. 
The rest of mankind ! What is it in 
the eyes of this proud being ? Mad- 
man, were it as true as it is false that 
you are not an adulterer, an extor- 
tioner, an unjust man, know that you 
possess one vice which contains all the 
rest — that vice is called pride. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I confess and own 
that I am not as good as the rest of 
men, and that without Thee there is 
no crime which I might not commit. 

Practice, — Esteem yourself as the 
least among men. 

Thursday. 

"And the pnblican standing afar off would not so 
much as lift up his eyes to heaven," — 8t. Lake 
xviii. 13. i 

Thought. — The publican also stands 
up, but far from the altar, for he con- 
siders himself unworthy to approach ; 
nor does he dare to lift up his eyes to- 
wards that heaven w^hich seems closed 
to him. Doubtless he is a sinner, but 



188 A THOUGHT FOR 

a humble, a repentant sinner. If he 
stands up, it is to show that he is 
ready to do all that God shall ask of 
him. 

Prayer. — Jesus, fill me with hum- 
ble repentance for my faults, gire me 
consciousness of my indignity, and 
knowledge of my misery. 

Praotice. — Never forget what you 
are. 

Friday. 

"This man went into his house justified."— /S'^. Luke 
xviii. 14. 

Thought. — Everything is forgiven 
him that asks forgiveness — nothing is 
forgiven him that does not ask it. 
By asking for forgiveness we acknow- 
ledge om wrong, and repent of our 
fault. By our silence, we do not 
own, but persist in the wrong. The 
repentant sinner regains grace and 
justice, the proud Pharisee returns to 
his house as proud and as guilty as 
when he went out. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 189 

Prayer, — Jesus, I repent; grant 
me that forgiveness which Thou didst 
obtain for me upon the cross, at the 
price of Thy blood. 

Practice, — Humility and confi- 
dence. 

Saturday. 

" Every one tliat exaUeth himself shaU be humbled ; 
he that humbieth himself bhall be exhalted."— /S'^. 
Luke xvii.. 14. 

Thought. — God deals favorably with 
the meek of heart, but rejects the 
proud : mankind follow the same 
rule ; therefore it is folly to exalt 
one's self. God and mankind exalt 
those who humble themselves. We 
should then humble ourselves with 
sincerity, for otherwise our hypocrisy 
would soon be discovered. 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant lae a know- 
ledge of myself and of Thee. Hu- 
mility will tlien come easy to me. 
The knowledge of my misery will 
keep me in my place, the knowledge 



190 A THOUGHT FOE 

of Thy greatness will keep me at 
that distance which respect demands. 
Practice. — Never seek the highest 
place, take rather the lowest. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 191 



ISlebenti) cSuntra^ after jpcnte^ 
touU 

'*" And thi^ bring kim one deaf and dumb."— aS'^. Mark 
vii. 32. 

Thought. — I am deaf to the inspi- 
rations of grace, and I am dumb 
when it behoves me to defend the in- 
terest of the Church. Who will teach 
me to be docile and faithful to the 
divine Word? Who will give me 
courage to speak boldly, in defence of 
faith and Church against the enemies 
of religion. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou alone canst 
work this wonder, Thou alone canst 
give me both courage and docility. 

Practice. — Hear the voice of God, 
and profess your faith, without any 
human respect. 



192 a thought for 

Monday. 

" And, taking him from the multitude apart, he put 
hisfingers into hi^ ears, and spitting, he touched 
hia tongue."— -S^, Markyii. 33. 

Thought. — Are you desirous of 
hearing the Word of God, and learn- * 
ing truth ? If so, you must separate 
yourself from the crowd. In the 
midst of the world you can only hear 
the buzz of opinion. Noise is con- 
fusing, opinion is doubtful, and is 
oftentimes an echo of error. Do you 
wish for liberty of speech ? You 
must still withdraw from the crowd. 
Surrounded by it, you would not dare 
to proclaim your thoughts. You, 
like the rest of the world, would speak 
under the control of your passions. 

Prayer, — Jesus, take me apart ; if 
not, the crowd will drag me away ; 
open my ears, that I may listen to 
Thy Word, touch my tongue with 
Thy precious blood in the Holy Com- 
munion, that I may have knowledge 
and courage to speak ot Thee. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 193 

Practice. — Be docile to the calling 
of Jesus, do not heed the voice of the 
crowd. 

Tuesday. 

"And looking up to heaven lie groaned."— /S'i. 
Uarlc vii. 34. 

Thought, — Jesus looks up to heaven. 
Let us, before the combat, by a pure 
and upright. intention, and by a hum- 
ble yet confident invocation, look to- 
wards Him who can do all things, 
without whom we can do nothing. 
Jesus groans. Human nature con- 
fesses its weakness. Let us confess 
our impotence, and we shall become 
powerful with the power of God. 

Prayer, — Jesus, by Thee, and 
through Thee only, do I expect 
strength and efficacy — strength to 
act, and success after action. 

Practice. — Cast one look towards 
God at the commencement of each 
action. 



194 a thought for 

Wednesday. 

** And he said to him : Ephpheta, which is, Be thou 
opened.'''— St. Mark vii. 34. 

Thought. — One word from Jesus 
suffices to open ear and mouth. 
When will this word be said for me ? 
When shall I become docile to the 
voice of God? When shall I have 
grace to speak well of God ? 

Prayer, — Jesus, say one word that 
I may hear and repeat it, both in my 
conduct and in my speech. 

Practice. — Expect everything from 
God alone. 

Thursday. 

"And immediately his ears were opened, and the 
string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke 
right."— aS^. Mark vii. 35. 

Thought. — He spoke right. He 
spoke correctly. Lo^uebatur recte. 
What is required in order to speak 
correctly, in the moral sense ? First- 
ly, the ear of intelligence must be 
opened to the voice of grace; second- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 195 

ly, the chain of human respect bind- 
ing the tongue must be broken. Then 
only will our language be correct — 
i.e,, it will be in conformity with our 
thoughts and with reason, because it 
will no longer be the echo of opinion, 
or the echo of the passions of man ; it 
will be in conformity with the divine 
thought^ and with faith, because the 
Word of God, once listened to and re- 
ceived with docility, will regulate our 
thoughts and words. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Eternal Wisdom, 
grant that my word may become a 
repetition of Thy divine Word, that 
my wisdom may be Thy Wisdom. 

Practice. — Speak according to your 
belief and faith. 

FsroAY. 

"And he charged them that they should tell no 
man,'^— >S'^. Mark vii. 36. 

Thought. — Jesus refuses worldly 
glory. Human judgment is so false ! 
And we would do good, but on con- 



196 A THOUGHT FOR 

ditiou that the world should know it. 
What reward can man give to us? 
Let us raise up our hearts. Let us do 
good. God will judge and recompense 
us. 

Prayer. — Jesus, if Thou concealest 
Thy favors, it is not through fear of 
flattery, but througli contempt for 
the vanity of human opinion. 

Practice, — Despise human judg- 
ment. 

Saturday. 

'^He hath done all things wel'."— aS'^. Marie, vii. 37. 

Thought, — Why has he done well ? 
Because he has made the deaf to hear, 
the dumb to speak. How many are 
there now deaf to the voice of God ! 
The greatest benefit that can be con- 
ferred on them is to teach them to 
hear the truth, by word and by book„ 
How many are dumb in the service 
of the Lord, refusing to open their 
lips to defend Him ! The best thing 



f 



EACH 1>AY OF THE YEAR. 197 

we can do is to loosen the strings of 
their tongues, and obtain from them 
a frank, full, and complete declaration 
in favor of truth, justice, and the 
Church. 

Prayer, — Jesus, teach me to un- 
derstand that all sanctity consists in 
doing good, and that doing good 
consists in serving our neighbor. 

Practice, — Do all things well. 
Age quod agis. Give yourself en- 
tirely up to the action you are per- 
forming. 



198 A THOUGHT FOR 



CtDclftl^ Suntras after J|ente- 
tost 

" Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you 
eee.'"—St. Luke x. 23. 

Thought. — Blessed are those who 
see Jesus — i.e., God made man, God 
made visible by the Incarnation. 
Wherefore sliould we envy those who 
saw Jesus during his mortal lite? We 
see Him, we know Him to be pre- 
sent, living, working, teaching, and 
speaking, in His Church, and through 
His Church, which is His body, and 
the evident, sensible manifestation 
of His presence. His wisdom, His 
bounty, and His power. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I see Thee by the 
eye of iaith, by the eye of reason, and 
by the eye of the body. The eye of 
the body sees the Christian, the 
priest ; the eye of reason sees the 
action which distinguishes tlie Chris- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 199 

tian, the priest : the eye of faith re- 
cognizes Thee in the Christian, and 
in the priest. 

Practice — 'Recognize Jesus Christ 
in each member of His Church. 

Monday. 

" Master, what must I do to p issess eternal life 9"_ 
£lt. Luke X. 85. 

^ T/iougfhL~Aecovding to the inten- 
tion of the interrogator, this question 
IS a test. So the question is admir- 
ably put, and the test is decisive 
Any course of teaching which does not 
resolve this problem by precise and 
practical solution is imperfect, and 
gives neither wisdom nor science. 
Only that which has reference to eter- 
nal life is of service, all other is use- 
less, and a waste of time. 

Prayer,— Jesus, Thou alone hast 
the words of eternal life. Tell me 
what I must do to obtain this life. 
Give me strength to act according to 
Thy instructions. 



200 A THOUGHT FOR 

Practice. — Think only of eternal 
life. 

Tuesday. 

'* What is written in the law."— /S'^. Jjiike x. 26. 

Thought. — Oftentimes we feign ig- 
norance, not tlirongli liumility, but to 
avoid giving practical example. That 
doctor who asks Jesus what the means 
are for gaining eternal life knows 
them very well ; he is a doctor of tlie 
law, and the law contains all that i& 
necessary for salvation. 

Prayer, — Jesus, enlighten me not- 
withstanding, ard help me to acknow- 
ledge what I know already, and espe- 
cially grant me strength to practise it. 

Practice, — Make use of the light 
already received if you wish to obtain 
more. 

Wednesday. 

'' Thou 8halt love the Lord thy Gfid with thy whole 
heart, and with ihy whole soul, aud witti all thy 
strength, and with all thymnd, aud thy neigh- 
bor as thyself."— aS^. Luke x. 27. 

Thought, — Such is the law. Pi- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 201 

liges — love of choice, free love — not 
blind love, or instinctive love — ex 
toto Gorde — no affection which tends 
not towards God — ex tota anima— 
every instant of my life, every breath 
consecrated to God — ex totis virihus 
— all my strength, all the sinews of 
my body, all the tendencies of my 
soul directed to the service of God — 
et ex omni mente — all my thoughts 
and intentions tending towards God. 
All the reasons 1 have to love myself 
should equally impel me to love my 
neighbor. In myself I should love 
the work of God, the image of God, 
the child of God, the brother and 
member of Jesus Christ. My neigh- 
bor is all this. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I nnite my inten- 
tions to those of Thy divine heart, 
and by so doing I am sure to accom- 
plish the law. 

Practice, — Have effective as well as 
affective love. 



202 a thought for 
Thursday. 

"This do; and thou shalt live."— /S'^. Luke:s., 28. 

Thought, — It does not suffice to 
know our duty, we must also do it. 
Oil ! if we did all the good we know 
of and are able to do! to what per- 
fection should wo not arrive, and how 
rapid would be our progress ! Is it 
then so difficult to love God with all 
our strength ? God asks for our whole 
strength, but for nothing more. We 
are not asked to do what is impos- 
sible. So with regard to our neigh- 
bor. We are asked to do for him 
what we do for ourselves, not to 
do anything which is beyond our 
power. 

Prayer. — Jesus, enlighten and 
strengthen me. Give me at least tlie 
good-will to do what I know, and 
what I am able. 

Practice. — Let us not think of 
what we cannot do, but let us do what 
is in our power. 



each day of the year. 203 
Friday. 

'* Which of these three in thy opinionwas neighbor to 
him that fell among robbers ? ""—St. Luke x. 36. 

Thought — Love is proved by 
actions. Your brother suffers. You 
pass him by without even looking at 
liim. Say not that you love him. 
Your brother falls into the hands of 
the devil by sin, and it is in your power 
to enlighten him by good counsel, and 
convert him. You make no attempt. 
You pass by a.s though the misfortunes 
of your neighbors concerned you not. 
You are wretched yourself. This 
cruel selfishness will cause your per- 
dition, and in your turn you will fall 
into the hands of the devil. 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant that I may 
never be insensible to the temporal or 
spiritual misery of my neighbor. 

Practice, — Works of mercy. 

Saturday. 

" Go and do thou in like manner.''— aS^. Luke x. 37. 

Thought. — The effects, the sign, 



204 A THOUGHT FOR 

and the proof of our love of God 
manifest themselves in the service we 
do our neighbor, in the consolation we 
afford him in time of suffering. Even 
the sinner, when doing works of 
charity, is efficaciously preparing him- 
self to regain grace. You do not 
love God, who is hidden from your 
sight, unless you love and serve 3^our 
brother, the child of God present to 
you. If, on the other hand, you love 
and serve your neighbor, you will 
soon love and serve your God. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou art the true 
Samaritan. Thou hast taken us, 
cured us of those wounds with wliich 
sin, after despoiling us, had loaded us. 
Grant that I may imitate Thee by my 
zeal for the salvation of my brethren. 

Practice, — Neglect no occasion of 
serving your neighbor. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 205 



" Going to Jerusalem, Jesus passed through the midst 
ot Samaria and Galilee. "—/S^. XwA;exvii. 11. 

Thought, — Jerusalem represents 
the Church. Samaria is a type of 
schisiiij heresy, and rebellious Chris- 
tians. Galilee, where paganism had 
been established during the captivity 
of Babylon, represents infidelity. In 
order to form and increase the Church, 
Jesus, by His Apostles and his mis- 
sionaries, traverses the countries occu- 
pied by tlie pagans and bad Chris- 
tians. The great work is the propa- 
gation of the faith, and the conversion 
of degenerate Christians. 

Prayer, — Jesus, do not permit me 
to become useless here below. Grant 
that I may help in Thy work, w^hich 
is the Church, by the conversion of 
sinners. 



206 A THOUGHT FOR 

Practiee, — Work incessantly for 
the salvation of your neighbor. 

Monday. 

" There met Him ten men t^hat were lepers, who stood 
afar of£:'St. Luke xvii. 12. 

Thought, — A certain passion, a cer- 
tain fault, like leprosy, may appear 
incurable and incorrigible. Go to 
Jesus. Go to Him with confidence, 
humility, and constancy. With con- 
fidence — OGGurrerunt ei — present 
yourself; go meet Him with con- 
stancy — steterunt — stand before Him 
with determination to wait until your 
prayer is heard ; with humility — a 
longe — consider liow undeserving you 
are to approach Jesus. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou alone canst 
cure me. I will then stand before 
Thee, praying, until Thou shalt speak 
the word of salvation. 

Practice, — Be persevering in 
prayer. 



each day of the year. 207 
Tuesday. 

" And lifted np their voic^, paying, Jesus, Master, 
have mercy on us.'' — St. Luke xvii. 13. , 

Thought. — Let us raise up our voi- 
ces and persist the more the further 
we know ourselves to be from God. 
But I know not how to pray. What ! 
you suffer, you are unhappy, and you 
know not how to pray ? Acknow- 
ledge your misery, desire to break 
from it, turn towards Him who alone 
can help you, and you will have 
, prayed. 

Prayer. — Jesus, have pity on me. 
Thou seest my misery far better than 
I, and Thou seest the remedy for the 
evil. 

Practice. — Simplicity and obstinacy 
in prayer. 

Wednesday. 

"Go show yourselves to the priests."— /S"^. LuTce 
xvii. 14. 

Thought. — These lepers owe their 
cure to their obedience. First of all 



208 A THOTJGHT FOR 

Jesns obeys the laws which constitute 
priests the judges of the cure of le- 
prosy — then the lepers obeyed Jesus, 
and without waiting for their cure 
went unto the priest to state their 
coniplaint. They obeyed, and on the 
way they were cured. Obedience and 
faith obtain the victory. 

Prayer, — Jesus, speak and I obey 
— speak and I believe. But add to 
Thy word the gift of -grace, add im- 
pulse to inspiration. Without this 
strength will fail me, and I shall not 
be able to follow the light. 

Practice, — Obey and believe. 

Thursday. 

" And it came to pass, as thf^y went, they were made 
clean." St. Luke xvii 14. 

Thought, — Pride engenders all vice. 
Obtain a cure for pride, and evil is 
destroyed in the roots. Now^, obedi- 
ence is precisely the antidote of pride. 
The lepers had scarcely entered on the 



ii 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 209 

path of obedience when thej were 
cured. 

Prayer, — Jesus, distance does not 
exist with regard to Thee, or rather 
he is near to Thee who does what 
Thou com\nandest, even when the ac- 
complishment of Thy orders seems to 
remove him from Thee. Minds are 
united more by the union of wills 
than by the proximity of bodies. 

Practice. — Confidence in the word 
of Jesus. 

Friday. 

** Were not ten made clean, and where are the nine ? " 
—St. Luke xvii. 17. 

Thought. — In time of misfortune we 
pray, in time of happiness we forget 
to pray. Gratitude hangs heavily on 
us. Pride blushes to acknowledge 
that assistance has been required, in- 
difference thinks not of remembering 
favors. Yet there is no injustice more 
deeply felt than ingratitude. Jesus, 
who is so sweet, so humble, complains 



210 A THOUGHT FOR 

of this offence. Out of ten lepers one 
only is grateful, and lie is a Samari- 
tan, one wliom we would nowadays 
call a schismatic. Often those called 
good are ungrateful towards God, for 
they seem to think that favors are 
their due. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I mourn, and am 
grieved at the ingratitude, the forget- 
fulness, the indifference shown to 
man. What can I say when I see 
the ingratitude to which Thou art 
subject ? 

Practice, — Show your gratitude 
towards God, and towards those who 
are kind to you. 

Saturday. 

** Thy faith hath made thee whole."— /S"/!. LukesLvW. 19. 

Thought, — Faith saves us, but not 
without good works. The Samaritan 
obtained salvation because, impelled 
by faith, he returned and threw him- 
self at the feet of Jesus, thanking Him 



EACH DAT OF THE YEAR. 211 

for Ills cure. But without faith good 
works are worth nothing. Faith raises 
them and gives them supernatural ef- 
ficaciousness. 

Prayer. — Jesus, in Thee alone will 
I confide, Thou art the only Saviour. 

Practice. — Spirit of faith in all 
your works. 



212 A THOUaHT FOR 



jFourteenti) SunTras after l^ente^ 
cost. 

"No man can serve two masters."— /S'^. Matthew vi. 24. 

Thought. — Unless these masters 
are one and the same. Thus I can 
and must serve God the Father, and 
Jesus His Son, and the Pope, who is 
the vicar of Christ, and my superiors, 
who (each according to their degree) 
represent the One Master — i.e.^ God. 
But it is impossible to serve two op- 
posite masters, as God and the devil, 
Jesus Christ and Belial, the Church 
and the world, the spirit of the Gospel 
and the spirit o^ the times. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou alone art Mas- 
ter, I can and will serve Thee alone. 

Practice, — Have God in sight 
through Jesus Christ and the Church. 



Monday. 

God and maD 
vi. 24. 

Thought. — To serve God is to raise 



*' Yon cannot serve God and mammon."— /S'^. Matthew 
vi. 24. 



EACH DAY O:^ THE YEAR. 213 

one's self, to serve mammon is to 
lower one's self. We cannot mount 
and descend at the same time. What 
folly to balance between vile metal 
and Him who is eternal, infinite Good ! 
What degradation to value the soul 
less than the body, spiritual and eter- 
nal interests less than material an(/ 
temporal interests ! And yet this 
folly is the wisdom, the prudence of 
worldly man, and man glories in it ! 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me to under- 
stand the first word of Thy preaching. 
Blessed are the poor of spirit and of 
heart. Break my chains, even if they 
are wrought of gold or silver. 

Practice. — Detach yourself from 
the riches of this world. 

Tuesday. 

" Be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, 
nor for your body, what you shall put on." — St. 
Matthew vi. 25. 

Thought, — Give yourself up to kind 
Providence, which will in due time 



214 A THOUGHT FOR 

procure for you what you require. 
That which Jesus promises for the 
life of the body is stiJl more true with 
regard to the wants of the soul. Let 
us in all simplicity, and without solici- 
tude, do our duty and our best, God 
will do the rest. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou knowest bet- 
ter than I what I need. Thou wish- 
est only my good. Thou canst do all 
things, why should I be anxious for 
the future ? 

Practice, — Have no useless anxious 
solicitude. 

Wednesday. 

" Behold the birds of the air."— aS'^. Matthew vi. 26. 

Thought. — The bird has no care. 
It is always on the wing, seeking food 
in every place, and always finding 
some. So let us be active, always at 
work, but without solicitude. Let us 
use our two wings, intelligence and 
will, to find nourishment for the soul, 



EaCH DAY OF THE YEAR. 215 

viz., J:ruth and justice; but we must 
remember that without Providence all 
our efforts will be in vain, while, on 
the contrary, with the help of God 
our efforts will be crowned with suc- 
cess. Let us not forget, however, that 
before helping us God expects that we 
should make good use of our reason 
and liberty. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I give up to Thee 
the direction of all my thoughts and 
desires. 

Practice. — Work as though success 
depended entirely upon your efforts — 
pray as though success depended upon 
God alone. 

Thursday. 

"And which of you by taking thought can add to his 
staLure one cubit? "— /S'lf. Matthew vi. 27. 

Thought, — What is here said of the 
body is true also of the soul. Unless 
God aids me in my endeavors, I can 
increase neither in wisdom nor in vir- 
tue. All that is positive, real, true, 



216 A THOUGHT FOR 

and good within me comes from God. 
I can co-operate with the Divine ac- 
tion. I may even resist it ; but with- 
out God I can do nothing. 

Prayer. — Jesns, I delight in ac- 
knowledging that without Thee I am 
utterly powerless. To whom can I 
better confide my interests, either for 
time or eternity, for body or soul, 
than to Thee, O Lord ? 

Practice. — ^Faithfulness to grace. 

Friday. 

'^ For your Father knoweth that yon have need of 
a.l these things." — St. Matthew vi. 32. 

Thought, — He knows this, and He 
is desirous of procuring them for you ; 
but He wishes to be asked for them, 
He expects homage and acknowledg- 
ment of your dependence. When 
you have prayed and worked, or rather 
during your prayer and work, abandon 
yourself to His wisdom, bounty, and 
power. Await His time with con- 
fidence and patience. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 217 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou knowest my 
needs. Thou knowest my desires. 
Thou wilt forget neither the one nor 
the other. 

Practice, — Confidence in God in 
spite of everything. 

Saturday. 

"Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God and His 
jastice, and all these things shall be added unto 
you."— /S^ Matthew vi. 33. 

Thought. — The Church is the king- 
dom of God here on earth. Let us 
work and combat, live and die for the 
Church ; forgetting self, and all things 
else, thinking only of God, and His 
interests ; then God will not forget 
us and our interests. 

Prayer. — Jesus, be Thou the only 
object of my care. Thy reign once 
secure, my destiny will also be secure. 

Practice. — Cause Jesus to reign, 
firstly, over yourself, and afterwards 
over all those who are under your in- 
fluence. 



218 A THOUGHT FOB 



iFCfternti) Sunttas after ^mtt^ 
tout. 

'* Jesus went into a city that is called Nairn ; and 
tbere went with Him His disciples and a great 
multitude."— /Sjf. Luke yu. 11. 

Thought. — A great multitude fol- 
lows Jesus, though He himself never 
seeks popularity. For thirty years 
He has lived unknown. Whenever 
He is able, He retires into solitude. 
Let us fly the crowd, let us not seek 
popularity. Let us speak and do 
well ; the people will listen to ue 
when God wills it. 

Prayer, — Jesus, forgetful of Thy 
own glory, Thou seekest only the 
glory of Thy Father, yet is glory 
rendered to Thee. I would forget 
myself for Thee, I desire no glory 
save Thine. 

Practice. — Fly from the crowd. 



each day of the year. 219 
Monday. 

**A dead man was carried ^nt, the only son of his 
mother, and she was a widow." — St. Luke vii. 12. 

Thought. — The Church is a mother, 
and like to a widow by the absence of 
her heavenly Spouse. The sinner is 
her son. Although he is not an only 
son, she mourns over him as such. 
And whilst the Church weeps over 
the sinner, he is buried in those pas- 
sions which drag him towards base 
material things. 

Prayer, — Jesus, do not permit me 
to be carried away by sensible and 
sensual things. 

Practice, — Call upon Jesus when 
you feel yourself overcome by passion. 

Tuesday. 

'* Whom when the Lord had soen, being moved with 
mercy towards her, He -aid to her : Weep not." — 
St. Luke vi. 13. 

Thought,— ^ie^w^ lias compassion, 
even on our temporal sorrows. When 
He allows us to suffer, it is for our 



220 A THOUGHT FOK 

good. But we may without offending 
Him have recourse to His goodness 
in wordly trials as well as in spiritual 
affliction. We shall be heard and 
rewarded accordino^ as it may be most 
advantageous to us. 

Prayer, — Jesus, why do I so often 
forget Thy goodness to think only of 
Thy justice? 

Practice, — Confidence in the good- 
ness of the heart of Jesus. 



Wednesday. 

" And He came and touched the bier." —St, Luke 
vii. 14. 

Thought. — God draws near unto 
the dead man, for the dead cannot 
approach Him. Thus when a soul is 
dead to God by sin it will never be 
able to approach God, unless He 
draws near by His grace. God is 
mercy itself; He draws near and 
touches the bier. He stops the bear- 
ers — ^.^.J the passions which were 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 221 

dragging the soul down to its in- 
fernal sepulchre. 

Prayer. — Jesus, do Thou but touch 
this garb of death which surrounds 
rae. Inaction paralyzes my mind, 
coldness freezes my heart. Touch 
my mind by Thy Word, and my heart 
by Thy grace, and I shall regain the 
activity and ardor of supernatural 
life. 

Practice. — Eespond to the first 
advances of grace. 

Thursday. * 

" YouDg man, I say to thee, Arise."— aS'^. Luke vii. 14. 

Thought. — One word of Jesus sufii- 
ces to give life to the dead. One 
word sufficed Him to draw from 
nothingness worlds of matter and 
mind. One word also suffices Him 
to give back to the soul the life of 
grace ; but the soul on her part must 
act according to the words of her 
Master — surge, arise — as if He had 



222 A THOUGHT FOB 

said — I give thee back the power to 
rise, but thou must use that power. 
I give thee the power of detesting 
sin, and correcting tliyself of it, but 
thou must avail thyself of this power. 
God created us without ourselves, but 
He will not save ns without our co- 
operation. — {St. Attgustine) 

Prayer. — Jesus, say unto me one 
of those words which transforms, ele- 
vates, and restores life. 

Practice. — Faithfulness to grace. 



Friday. 

*' And he that was df^id sit up a ^ d began to epeak." — 
St. Luke vii. 15. 

Thought. — T>o at least what lies in 
your power. If it seems impossible 
for you to stand upright, at least 
make the effort. You cannot, you 
say, give up this or that sinfnl prac- 
tice. You can at least pray, and you 
can speak to God, the Blessed Virgin, 
and the saints — et coepit loqui. God 
by his grace will do the rest. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 223 

Prayer. — Jesus, I will make an 
effort when Thou callest, with the 
certainty that my effort will be se- 
conded by new graces, more effica- 
cious than former graces. 

Practice, — Pray as soon as you are 
able — i,e,^ always. 

Saturday. 

''A great prophet is ris'^n np among us."— yS^. Luke 
vii. 16. 

Thought. — Man is known by his 
works better even than by his words. 
He who works supernaturally must 
speak in words not less supernatural. 
Jesus performs a miracle, and the peo- 
ple conclude that He is a prophet. 
They are only mistaken in not fully 
realizing it. The Christian lives su- 
pernaturally, especially by Holy Com- 
munion. Are you known as a Chris 
tian by your conduct and your speech ? 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant that, united 
toTliee by Baptism and Communion, 
I may honor Thee, and show myself 



224 A THOUGHT FOR 

Thy disciple by the dignity of my 
conversation. 

Practioe. — Sliow yourself worthy 
of J esus. 



'■^ 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 225 



Strtcrntl) Sttntrag after ^mU^ 
cost 

" Jesus went into the house of one of the chief of the 
Pharisees on the Sabbath day to eat bread, and 
they watched Him."— aS^. Luke xiv. 1. 

Thought. — Jesus can do nothing 
without being criticised; yet you 
hope to escape censure? If every- 
body thinks well of you, you are not 
the disciple of Jesus. Universal favor 
is only obtained by universal flattery. 
If you please everybody, how many 
passions and prejudices do you not 
aatisfy? And this being the case, 
you could not satisfy lionest, sensible 
persons ; therefore it is impossible to 
please everybody. 

Prayer.— Jesus, teach me to de- 
spise censure as Thou didst despise 
it. 

Practice, — Be above censure. 



226 a thought for 

Monday. 

"And behold there was a cp^^ain man before him that 
had the dropsy."— /S^. Luke xiv. 2. 

Thought, — This swelling is symbo- 
lical of pride, and also of science, 
wbicli, when not moderated by hu- 
mility, swells the mind and the heart. 
This man with the dropsy is a living 
type of those Pharisees who watched 
Jesus that they might find Him in 
fault, and thus console the pride of 
their false science and virtue, so often 
confounded by the wisdom of the 
Saviour. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I stand before 
Thee with my vanity and my swel- 
lings ; Thou alone canst cure me. 

Practice. — Esteem not yourself 
above your worth. 

Tuesday. 

**Is it lawful to heal on tho S ;bbath-day ? ''—St. Luks 
xiv. 3. 

Thought. — Jesus needs neither the 
answer of the doctors to know what 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAE. 227 

is lawful, nor the permission of the 
Pharisees to heal the infirm. The 
question, then, is ironical. He who 
by one word can cure the sick surely 
knows the law as well as the doctors. 
The law forbids servile works. Mira- 
cles are divine works. But Jesus 
mocks the Pharisees and their over- 
weening pride. 

Prayer, — Jesus, teach me to de- 
spise false knowledge and the bad 
intentions of my enemies. 

Practice. — Confound the enemies 
of Jesus Christ by word and action. 



Wednesday. 

•' But they held their peace." -St. Luke xiv. 4. 

Thought. — Rather than recognize 
and declare the truth, the false doc- 
tors are silent. It is the rule with 
sophists, as well as with politicians, 
to abstain from from giving a solu- 
tion, that they may reserve to them- 



228 A THOUGHT FOR 

selves a pretext wherewith to sur- 
prise and condemn their adversary. 

Prayer. — Jesus, at every moment 
of my life I meet with bad faith and 
intrigue which oppose me in my good 
designs. Thou, O Lord, hast met 
with the same difficulties, but Thou 
didst never waver in pursuit of Thy 
object. 

Practice. — Despise equally the 
silence and the converse of enemies 
to good, and continue your work. 

Thursday. 

" But Jesus, taking him, healed him and sent him 

away."— /i)Y. Luke xiv. 4. 

Thought. — Do good in spite of 
everything. If you are forbidden by 
man to speak, or do anything for the 
glory of God or the salvation of souls 
(though Christ Himself has charged 
you with this mission through His 
Church , persevere, and take upon 
yourselves that liberty which is re- 
fused you ; it is your right. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 229 

Prayer, — Jesus, after silencing 
Thy enemies by the simple question, 
Thou didst bring contusion upon them 
by the greatness of Thy action ; teach 
us to imitate Thee, and confound the 
world by words of faith and by works 
of charity. 

Practice, — Put a stop to ungodli- 
ness by the practice of charity. 

Friday. 

" And they could not answer Him to these things."— 
St. Lake xiv. 6. 

Thought, — What could they an- 
swer? If Jesus speaks He outdoes 
in wisdom these cunning and clever 
men by one simple question. His 
a^^tions show him to be a prophet, a 
messenger from God — God Himself. 
Bow down, O ye proud spirits, and 
acknowledge your Master. This is 
the answer which you could and 
ought to make, but pride refuses to 
submit. 



230 A THOUGHT FOR 

Prayer. — Jesus, I rejoice that Thou 
dost triumph over Thy enemies. 
Grant that I may assist as much as I 
am able in Thy combats and victories. 

Practice. — Combat the enemies ot 
Jesus by works as well as by words. 

Saturday. 

"Every one that exalteth himself pball be humbled, 
and he that humblelh himself shall be exalted." 
— ^S'^ Luke xiv. 11. 

Thought, — Even humanly speak- 
ing, humility is the surest means of 
arriving at glory; for even in this 
world pride ends only in confusion. 
Besides, why care about the esteem 
or contempt of men, who are so blind, 
so unjust in their judgment ? They 
are annoyed at the sight of true 
merit, and they only grant honor to 
those on whose servility they can de- 
pend. In fine, the world esteems 
those whom it appears to contemn, 
and despises those whom it seems 
to honor. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 231 

Prayer, — Jesus, teaclime sincerely 
to despise the world ai].d public 
opinion ; I shall only be truly happy 
when I feel desirous to be forgotten 
altogether by the world. 

Practice . — Seek obscurity, solitude, 
and the lowest place. 



232 A THOUGHT FOR 



Sebcnteenti) cSunTrag after ^tn- 
tecost 

" But the Pharisees, hearing he had silenced the Saddu- 
cees, came together."— /Si^. Matthew xxii. 34. 

Thought. — Thej do not unite in 
search of truth, bat to destroy Jesus, 
who is truth itself. Thus are united 
the enemies of the Church, not 
through love of truth, but tlirongh 
hatred of the incorruptible, infallible 
guardian of truth. 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant that as the 
wicked are assembled against Thee, 
so the good may unite around Thee. 

Practice, — Let us be united with 
the Pope, who is Vicar of Christ, by 
docility of taith, and we shall be unit- 
ed both to Jesus Christ and to one 
another in truth, of which the Pope 
is the infallible teacher. 



each day of the year. 233 
Monday. 

*' Master, which is the gre*^t commandment of the 

law r—St. Matthew xxii. 36. 

Thought. — There is a snare in the 
simple manner of the question. But 
the snare is broken by the simplicity 
of the answer. Let us distrust the 
apparent candor of the enemies of 
faith, especially when they feign ig- 
norance or when they address us with 
pompous titles. Let us destroy their 
malice by the firmness and straight- 
forwardness of our answ^er. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou art truly 
Master, and Thy answer goes to prove 
it. Be Thou my light and my 
strength. 

Practice, — Uprightness and simpli- 
city of word and action. 

Ttjesday. 

" Thou Shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole 
heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole 
mind."— >Sf. Matthew xxii. 37. 

Thought, — Diliges — thou shalt love 



234 A THOUGHT FOR 

— love of preference, deliberate love 
directed by the mind, not passionate 
or instinctive love. God is my Mas- 
ter, to Him I owe everything. Domi- 
num — Lord ; this Master is my God 
and the supreme Good. Deum — 
God. He deserves all mv love. 

Prayer. — Jesus, teach me to love 
Thee with my whole heart. Once en- 
lightened by faith and understanding, 
my heart will place at Thy feet my 
soul and all its powers, my mind and 
all its intentions. 

Practice. — Hold nothing in your 
heart that tends not to God. 

"Wednesday. 

*' This is the greatest and first commandment."— -S^if. 
Matthew xxii. 38. 

Thought. — This is the first com- 
mandment, because it is the princi- 
ple whence springs all other com- 
mandments ; the greatest command- 
ment, because in it all others are con- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 235 

tained. He that loves God desires 
all that God desires. He that loves 
God with all his heart prefers God to 
every other good. 

Prayer. — Jesus, instead of making 
numberless intentions, I will think, 
wish for, and love only one thing — 
the glory of Thy Heavenly Father 
and the means of serving Him. 

Practice. — Have God always in 
sight, 

Thursday. 

And the second is like to this, Thou shalt love tky 
neighbor aa thyself/'— /Si^. Matthew xxii. 39. 

Thought.— li I love God, I shall 
love my neighbor, because, like my- 
self, he is the work of God, the im- 
age of God, and the child of God. If 
I love myself, I shall love my brother : 
he is like to me. This second com- 
mandment is like to the first, just as 
our neighbor is like to God. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thy love for man 
was such that Thou didst make him 



236 A THOUGHT FOR 

like to Thee, and Thou lovest him as 
much as, and in one sense more than, 
Thyself; for Thou didst sacrifice Thy- 
self for him. Teach me Thy lesson 
and example. 

Practice, — Brotherly charity. 

Friday. 

" On these two commandm'^nts depend the whole law 
and the propnets.'— aS'^. Matthew xxii. 40. 

Thought. — The law informs us 
what ouglit to be done, but prophets 
tell us what will be done. To love 
God and our neighbor is what we 
should do, and this will be done, for 
the prophets have announced Jesus 
Christ. Thus to speak of Jesus is to 
tell of love for God and neighbor, of 
love, even unto death upon the Cross, 
for God and souls. 

Prayer. — Jesus, fill me with that 
double love which causes Thy heart to 
beat, and which gives Thee to us as 
our Saviour and our King. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 237 

Practice, — Love of God whom you 
see not, by the love of your neigh- 
bor whom you see. 

Saturday. 

" And no man was able to answer Him a word." — St. 
Matth&w xxii. 46. 

Thought, — Jesus silences His ene- 
mies, thereby giving an example to 
His Church and His ministers, who 
live only in order to obtain for truth 
and justice the victory over falsehood 
and iniquity. But we must be pa- 
tient, humble, and charitable. Pa- 
tience consists in suffering death ra- 
ther than betray the cause of truth 
and justice; humility consists in sub- 
mitting to truth by faith, to the com- 
mandments by obedience, in repelling 
all liberty which is based upon false- 
hood or injustice; charity bids us en, 
lighten those who teach falsehood, 
and are ignorant of what is right. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me a little of 



238 A THOUGHT FOR 

that eloquence and wisdom with 
which Thou didst confound falsehood 
and unmask ignorance. 

Practice, — 8tudy your religion, 
that you may be in a position to de- 
fend it. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 239 



iSifliiternti^ cSuntrafi after 33ente= 
cost 

" And entering into a boat, Be passed over the water 
and came mto His own city."— /S^, Matthew ix. 1. 

Thought. — Jesus comes into His 
own city. We are then permitted to 
remember our relations, but it must 
be as Jesus remembered them, that 
we may enlighten them by our dis- 
course and bring them to God, by our 
works and by our example. 

Prayer. — Jesus, transform the na- 
tural teelings of my heart, even those 
most legitimate, into supernatural sen- 
timents. Grant that I may love my 
neighbor for Thy sake alone. 

Practice. — Above and before all 
seek the glory of God. 



Monday, 

brought to 1 
1 a bed."— >S^, 

Thought.— ii I am deprived of 



*' And behold, they brought to Him one sick of the 
palsy, lying in a bed."— >S'^. Matthew ix. 3. 



240 A THOUGHT FOB 

strength and energy, what can I do 
for God and my neighbor? And I 
am discouraged by the impotence of 
my efforts, by uselessness of my 
works; I am sick and prostrate. 
Jesus is the giver of all strength; 
why, then, do I not present myself to 
Him? 

Prayer, — Jesus, behold me stretch 
ed motionless at Thy i'eet ; Thou 
canst give me that supernatural life 
and strength which fail me now. 

Practice. — Expect help from Jesus 
only. 

Tuesday. 

"And Je?u8, geeing their faith, said to the man sick 
of the palsy, Be of g od heart, son, ihy sins are for- 
given ihee.^'— >S'^. Matthew ix. 2. 

Thought. — Faith does not go un- 
rewarded. It obtains all tilings, 
more even than it asks for, and ob- 
tains even when apparently it asks 
for nothing. What did they who 
brought the man sick of the palsy ? 
They laid him at the feet of Jesus 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 241 

without saying a word. Jesus under- 
stood theno. They expected the cure 
of this sick man ; they will obtain it, 
and more, even. Jesus goes back to 
the primary cause of all infirmities — 
Sin, He begins by forgiving the sick 
man his sins. Spiritual cure before 
bodily cure ; but the body does not 
lose by it. 

Prayer. — Jesus, take pity on my 
spiritual misery, which is generally 
the cause of my temporal misery, and 
of the impotence of my words and 
actions. 

Practice. — Begin by purifying 
your conscience. 

"Wedi^esday. 

" And behold, gome of the Scribes said within them- 
selves. He blasphemeth."— aS^. Matthew ix. 3. 

Thought, — The enemy is always on 
the watch, ready to criticise and con- 
demn all that Jesus may do and say. 
The disciple is not greater than the 
Master. Let us, then, be resigned, 



242 A THOUGHT FOR 

and bear censure, blame, and con- 
demnation ; but whatever may hap- 
pen, whatever may be said, we should 
never tire of speaking truth and doing 
good. 

Prayer. — Jesus, teach me to take 
no heed of those discontented, jealous 
minds whose only happiness is to cen- 
sure. 

Practice. — Let us lift ourselves 
above the annoyances stirred up by 
pride and envy. 

Thuesday. 

** And Jesus, seeinjsr their thoughts, said. Why do yon 
thiuk evil in your hearts f ''—St, MaWiew ix. 1. 

Thought. — Let us follow the exam- 
ple of Jesus, and allow no attack from 
the enemy to pass unanswered. It is 
both just and charitable of us to do so 
— just towards the aggressor, for our 
silence would but confirm his preju- 
dice ; just to those who have read or 
heard of the lies of the impious, other- 
wise our silence would be taken as an 



EACH DAT OF THE YEAR. 243 

avowal, and calumny would pass as 
truth ; charitable towards the enemies 
of truth in taking trouble to enlighten 
them; charitable towards those who 
would be dupes to untruth and soph- 
ism, if we did not confound the liar 
and the sophist. But we must perse- 
vere to the end. We must penetrate 
to the thoughts of the enemy, and 
even unmask the motive — Tit quid 
cogitatis mala in cardihus vestris. 
Let us remember, however, that there 
may be cases in which silence is more 
eloquent and more startling than 
speech. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me one virtue 
more heroic even than patience, which 
submits to everything ; grant me 
sufficient courage to attack error and 
vice ; give me strength to combat 
what is false and evil. 

Practice, — Defend Jesus when He 
is attacked in the person of His 
Church and ministers. 



244 a thought for 

Friday. 

" Rise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house." St. 

Matthew ix 6. 

Thought — Jesus adds action to the 
word, and thus confounds the malice 
of His enemies. We must not leave 
any attack against religion unan- 
swered, but our actions must be in 
accordance with our words. The 
enemy of God particularly wishes to 
prevent our acting. Let us, then, 
speak well and boldly, but especially 
let us do well in spite of everything. 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant me courage 
both in words and actions. Command. 
There is strength in Thy command, 
and it is communicated to him who, 
in obedience, tries to rise and walk. 

Practice. — Do your best. God 
will do the rest. 



Saturday. 

lo, peeins: it, fc 
"— /S^. Matt/iew i 

Thought, — It purports nothing, 



"And the multitude, peeins: it, feared and glorified 

Qoa:'—'SL Matt/iew ix 8. 



EACH DAT OF THE YEAR. 245 

men will say, to combat and confound 
the enemies of the Church, if you do 
not convert them. To which I reply, 
were you to convert but one soul, all 
your trouble would be sufficiently 
repaid. But we have not only to 
convert the enemy, but also to pre- 
serve and strengthen those whom the 
enemy will deceive, unless his teach- 
ing be unmasked and he himself be 
reduced to silence. Jesus did not 
convert the Scribes whom He con- 
founded, but He enlightened the 
people upon the dangers of their 
doctrines. 

Prayer. — Jesus, give to my words 
and actions strength to confound the 
wicked and to help simple and 
upright souls. 

Practice. — ^Never cease to combato 



246 A THOUGHT FOB 



IS^intUtntf) Suntras aftrr i|entr^ 
tout. 

** The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king who 
made a marriage for his son."— /S;^. Matthew xxil. 1. 

Thought. — God the Father cele- 
brates the alliance of His Son with 
humanity. We are invited to par- 
take of this alliance by Holy Commu- 
nion. This union constitutes the 
reign of God over souls, and this 
reign offers us the certainty of happi- 
ness and eternal life. 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant that I may 
understand and participate in the dig- 
nity and blessedness to which I am so 
touchingly invited by Thy heavenly 
Father. 

Practice. — Thank God incessantly 
because He has deigned to come 
down to us, that He might raise us 
up to Him. 



each day of the year. 247 
Monday. 

" And he sent his servants to call them that were in- 
vited to the marriage, and they would not come." 
— JSL Matthew xxii. 2, 

Thought. — God sent His prophets 
to call the Jews to the marriage feast. 
Jesus Himself sent the apostles to 
draw thither the Gentiles, but a small 
number only answered this glorious 
invitation. Each day am I invited 
by the secret inspiration of grace, and 
I am generally deaf to the invitation, 
or I openly resist it. 

Prayer, — Jesus, when shall I 
promptly, entirely, and with constan- 
cy reply to Thy call ? 

Practice, — Be faithful to all the in- 
spirations of grace. 

Tuesday. 

'* They went their ways, one to his farm, and another 
to his merchandise."— /S^. Matthew xxii. 5. 

Tliought. — Men of the world neg- 
lect God, some for pleasure, others 
for the sake of business. And I, 



24:8 A THOUGHT FOR 

where do I find my pleasure ? Is it 
in union with God through prayer 
and communion? What is my most 
important business? Is it the glory 
of God, the salvation of my soul, and 
that of my neighbor ? 

Prayer, — Jesus, at Thy call I 
abaiidon everything. What pleasure 
can be greater than to be united to 
Thee ? What business, what interest 
is worth one single communion ? 

Practice, — Renounce everything 
and follow Jesus, 

Wednesday. 

** But wHentlie king heard of it, he ^a angry, and 
Bending his armies, he destroyed those murderers, 
and burned their city.'*— aS'^. Matthew xxii. 7. 

Thought, — Not content with refus- 
ing his invitation, they murdered the 
king's servants. These are sinners 
who, not satisfied with refusing grace, 
hunt out and kill the servants of God 
when they can do so. But woe to 
them ! They will lose the grace that 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 249 

they refuse, as well as those false ad- 
vantages which they prefer to grace. 

Prayer. — Jesus, in spite of all op- 
position, Thou wilt reign in this life 
and in the next. Commence at once 
Thy reign over my heart. 

Practice. — Voluntary submission 
to the good pleasure of God. 

Thursday. 

" Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as 
you shall find, call to the marriage.*' — St, Matthew 
xxil. 9. 

Thought. — Jesus will call a certain 
number of elect, whom in His eternal 
decrees He has determined upon. If 
you refuse the honor done to you in 
being invited to the divine banquet, 
God will do without you ; your place 
will easily be filled. If stones only 
could be found, He is able to change 
them into children of Abraham. 
Then will narrow-minded, hard-heart- 
ed, vulgar mirds become suddenly 
changed, and they will take the place 



250 A THOUGHT FOR 

of those chosen, noble-minded, high- 
souled Christians who have refused 
the divine invitation. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou didst meet 
me on the roadside when I was 
hastening to perdition. Thou hast 
called me to replace some great being 
who has disdained Thy advances- 
Grant that I may not become un- 
worthy of thy favors. 

Practice. — Have a childlike fear of 
losing grace. 

Friday. 

"Friend* how earnest thou in thither, not hariug on a 
wedding garmeut?"—;S'iJ. MaWiew xxii. 1;?. 

Thought. — One must be worthy to 
assist at this royal banquet. Sinner ! 
the angels and ministers of God have 
met thee on the road to death and 
perdition. Come with full detesta- 
tion of sin. Thou hast indeed lost 
the white robe of baptism, but clothe 
thyself now in the garb of penance. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I pray Thee not 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. -251 

only call me to Thee, but pnrifj me 
in Thy blood, render me worthy to 
receive Thee in communion. 

Practice, — Retain the grace of pu- 
rity by frequent examinations of con- 
science. 

Saturday. 

*" For many are called, but few are chosen."— xS"^. Mat- 
thew xxil. 14. 

Thought, — Many are invited, but 
few reply to the call. Pleasures and 
earthly interests engage us niore than 
that joy and glory which will be eter- 
nal, which is to come. Worldly festi- 
vals and worldly interests are pre- 
ferred before God. Thus do we lose 
both our soul and God. 

Prayer, — Jesus, call me, draw me 
towards Thee. If I resist, use gentle 
violence to save me in spite of my- 
self. 

Practice, — Be with the small num- 
ber ; the multitude will be lost. 



252 A THOUGHT FOR 



cost 

** He came again into Cana of Galilee where he had 
made the water wine."— /S^. John iv. 46. 

Thought. — One is pleased to return 
to a place where one has done good, 
but when we return we must, like 
Jesus, intend to do a greater good. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou didst change 
the water into wine ; change Thou my 
weakness into strength ; work this mi- 
racle in my soul, O Lord. 

Practice. — If you are unable to do 
all that you wish, do at least all you 
can. Offer water, if you have nothing 
better, leaving it to Jesus to change 
the water into wine. 



Monday. 

r went to Hii 
lal his eon."- 

Thought. — This young man was at 



"And a certain ruler went to Him and prayed Him to 
come down and heal his eon."— /S^. John iv. 46, 47. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 253 

death's door. In dire extremity have 
recourse to Jesus and you shall live. 
If everything seems lost, Jesus by one 
word can repair it all. Speak but one 
word, and Jesus will show himself to 
you. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I know that I am 
powerless ; for the future I will have 
recourse to Thee in all my troubles. 

Practice, — Invoke Jesus in time of 
temptation and affliction. 

Tuesday. 

*' Unless you see signs and wonders yon oelieve not." 
—St. John iv. 48. 

Thought, — Why seek for wonders ? 
Follow m the common path, look at 
Jesus. He is not less admirable nor 
is His Divmity shown less brilliantly 
in His ordinary life than in the mira- 
cles He performs. Be dignified and 
simple in all your actions ; then, what- 
ever you do, you will be like Jesus — 
great. 



254 A THOUGHT FOK 

Prayer, — Jesus, teach me that true 
greatness does not consist in doing 
much, but in doing welL 

Practice, — Follow the example 
shown you by Jesus ; perform all your 
actions well. 

Wednesday. 

" Lord, come down before that my son die."— aS'^. 
John iv. 49. 

Thought.— In spite of this, the fa- 
ther repeats his prayer. He wishes 
to save his son. No real or apparent 
obstacles can disconcert him. When 
God seems obstinate in his refusal, 
persist in your demand — prayer over- 
comes all things. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I will not cease 
prayitig to Thee until I have com- 
pletely realized those designs which I 
have conceived for Thy glory. 

Practice, — Constancy and confi- 
dence in prayer. Persevere until you 
have triumphed. 



each day of the year. 200 
Thursday. 

*' Go thy way, thy son liYeth,''—St. John iv. 50. 

Thought, — Through faith we ob- 
tain all things. It may happen that 
3'ou receive no temporal blessings, but 
in their stead grace far superior will 
be granted you. Ask especially that 
your soul may live, and your prayers 
will be heard. 

Prayer. — Jesus, when wilt Thou 
say to me : Go, have no further care, 
thy soul liveth, and is cured of such a 
vice, of such a fault ? When I have 
united prayer to earnest endeavor. 

Practice, — Work and pray, pray 
and work— this is the secret of life. 

Friday. 

'* The man believed the word which Jesus said to him, 
and went his way."— iS'^. John iv. 50. 

Thought, — When Jesus speaks to 
you, either by a direct command from 
your superiors or by inspirations of 
grace, do not hesitate — believe and go. 



256 A THOUGHT FOR 

But it is incredible, impossible ! Go. 
What seems impossible will become a 
reality, what appears incredible will 
become an established fact, when Je- 
sus shall have spoken. This man had 
not reached his home before the ser- 
vants met him with the news that his 
son was restored to health. 

Prayer, — Jesus, inspire me with 
prompt and lively faith, so that I 
may receive Thy orders and inspira- 
tions without hesitation. 

Practice, — Prompt and simple obe- 
dience to the will of God whenever it 
is manifested to you. 

Saturday. 

" And himself believed, and his whole house.''— /S'i. 
John iv. 63. 

Thought, — There are several de- 
grees of faith. Just now this prince 
simply believed in the word of the 
Saviour, telling him of the cure of his 
son. Now that with his own eyes he 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR, 257 

has witnessed the truth, in which he 
had believed before, his faith becomes 
greater and more widely spread — 
greater, for he now believes in the 
almighty power and the Divinity of 
Jesus ; more widely spread inasmuch 
as it is communicated by him to all 
his household. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I believe, but in- 
crease my faith ; grant that, by my 
fidelity to the first glimpses of faith, 
I may deserve complete enlighten- 
ment. 

Practice. — Docility to the impulse 
of grace. 



258 A THOUGHT FOR 



3rti3tnti)-Ctsit <Suntra2 after prn^ 
UtonU 

" Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a 
king who would take an account of his servants.'* 
—/St. Matthew xviii. 2. 

Thought, — God will demand of me 
an account of how I have used all that 
He confided to me — body, soul, intel- 
ligence, will, senses, health, strength, 
worldly goods, natural and supernatu- 
ral gifts. Every thought, every de- 
sire, every word will be examined and 
judged. Recompense or punishment 
will be awarded. I must render an 
account of every useless word that I 
have spoken. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou who wilt be 
my judge, grant me grace to forestall 
Thy judgments by daily examination 
of conscience, made in Thy presence 
as though Thou wert already judging 
me. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 259 

Practice, — Examine your con- 
science every evening. 

Monday. 

** Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all."— 
St. Matthew xviii. 26. 

Thought. — Alas! for how many 
years has not Jesus borne with me. 
Year after year I rob Him of His due. 
All my thoughts, desires, words, and 
actions should tend towards His great- 
er glory, and I use all these for my 
own profit, or rather for my own loss. 
I think only of myself, I love only 
myself, and my conversation tends to 
my own personal advantage ; I work 
only for my own interest. And God 
has not yet taken from me the use of 
my senses and my faculties. He 
snatches me not from the life which 
I abuse. How great is His patience ! 

Prayer. — Jesus, be patient a little 
longer ; for the future I will do all 
for the glory of Thee. 



260 



A THOUGHT FOR 



Practice. — Often offer yourself up 
to God. 



Tuesday. 

•' And the lord of tliat servant, being moved with 
pity, let him go, and forgave him the debt."— /S^. 
Matthew xviii. 27. 

Thought, — God not only bears with 
me, and continues His favor toward 
me, but also keeps me in His service 
in spite of my oft-renewed wanderings 
from Him ; and if I only acknowledge 
my infidelity and my ingratitude, He 
forgets the past, and confers upon me 
new graces for the future. 

Prayer. — Jesus, if the Heavenly 
Father forgives me my debt thus 
easily, it is because Thou hast paid 
my debt with Thy own blood. To 
Thee, then, am I indebted ! May I 
never forget that I am Thy debtor 
now and for all eternity. 

Practice. — Make up for lost time, 
and do everything for the service of 
God. 



each day of the year. 261 
Wednesday. 

"And laying hold of him he throttled him, sayinff 
Pay what thou owesV—jSt. Matthew xviii. 28. 

Thought— We always find a thou- 
sand excellent excuses for our gravest 
faults ; but if any one wrong us in the 
least, the offence at once becomes un- 
pardonable. We have a thousand rea- 
sons wherewith to condemn our neigh- 
bor, but not one wherewith to excuse 
him. 

Grayer,— Jesus, Thou who didst 
find excuses for those who nailed 
Thee to the Cross, teach me to un- 
derstand that true superiority and 
real greatness of soul consist in for- 
getting injury and in being above 
insult. 

^ T'ractice.— Pardon and forget in- 
juries. 

Thursday. 

" Now his fellow-servant^ peein- what was done, were 
very much grieved/'— /S'^. Matthew xviii. 31. 

Thought — Nothing injures us so 
much in the eyes of our neighbors as 



262 A THOIJGHT FOR 

that pitiless severity whicli renders us 
exacting, difficult to please, and im- 
placable. He who can bear nothing 
is himself unbearable. We do not 
forgive that man who forgives no- 
body. 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant that I may 
not sadden my brethren by my in- 
tolerance towards those w^ho offend 
me; may I remember that I have de- 
fects for which I claim indulo:ence. 

PractiGe. — Close the eye to the de- 
fects of others, and open it to your 
own. 

Fkiday. 

*' And his lord being angry, delivered him to the tor- 
turers until he^pald all the debt."— /S;{. MaWietc 
xviii. 34. 

Thought. — How can you deserve 
pity if you show none to your neigh- 
bor ? Be not too exacting, if you are 
desirous that God should not be so 
to you. The thought of purgatory 
frightens you, and not without reason. 
There you will have to expiate every 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 263 

thing, even the idly-spoken word. 
Forgive, then, and remit what is 
owing to you, that God may forgive 
you your debt. The great secret of 
escape from the flames of purgatory 
is the forgiveness of injuries. 

Prayer. — Jesus, soften my heart 
by the sight of Thy heart ; teach me 
to forget and pardon all the injuries I 
have ever received. 

Practice. — Think of the severity 
of Divine judgment, and you will 
be less severe in your judgment of 
others. 

Satfeday, 

** So also shall my Heavenly Father do to you, if you 
forgive not every one his brooher Irom your 
hearts."~/S'^. Matthew xviii. 35. 

Thought — After all, what are the 
offences committed against us in com- 
parison with those we are guilty of 
towards God? Generally the injury 
is only imaginary. The offender had 
not even the intention of hurting us. 
Often, too, we take as an injury truth 



264 A THOUGHT FOK 

wliieli is spoken of us, an act of jus- 
tice which is rendered us. In fine, it 
rarely happens that the offence causes 
us a real loss, one affecting the soul, 
or compromising our eternal interests. 

Prayer, — Jesus, teach me how 
wrong it is of me, after offending 
goodness itself, to be so sensible of an 
offence wliich really benefits more 
than it injures. 

Practice, — Look upon offences as a 
means of expiation and reparation for 
your own faults. 



f 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAE. 2G5 



^Ttoentg^sccontr Suntrag aiUv 
Pentecost 

" Then the Pharisceg, going, consulted among them- 
selves how to ensnare Him in His speech."— .S^ 
Matthew xxii. 15. 

Thought— It' you proclaim the 
truth, and do good actions, you of- 
fend the wicked, and never afterwards 
will you be able to take a step or say 
a word without being watched, com- 
mented upon, wrongly interpreted, 
and denounced before those who have 
power to silence you. Be careful, 
then, in your speech, and keep watch 
upon your actions; be irreproachable. 

Prayer, — Jesus, why should I won- 
der or be vexed that I am a butt for 
criticism, when Thou couldst not go 
unscathed. 

Practice, — Be careful in speech and 
action, that you may not be entrap- 
ped by malice. 



ivi 

266 a thought fok 

Monday. 

" And they sent to Him their disciples with the Eero- 
dianfc."— yS'^. Matthew xxii. 16. 

Thought. — Those Pharisees who 
were so proud, so imbued with a sense 
of their authority, must have hated 
the partisans of Herod. The sceptre 
of this king and stranger to their na- 
tion must liave weighed as heavily 
upon them as the Roman yoke. Yet 
they join with the enemies of their 
country and their religion, with those 
who are hostile to their power ; they 
unite with them and plot the perdi- 
tion of Him who alone can, and would, 
save and enfranchise Israel, who alone 
can and will give to lier people and 
her chiefs power stronger far than 
that worldly and political power of the 
Herods and the CaBsars. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou alone by 
Thy Church grantest true liberty to 
nations ; Thou givest to rulers a sway 
mild and strong. In spite of this, na- 



EACH BAY OF THE YEAR. 267 

tions and rulers stand in league against 
Thee and Thy Church. Jealousy is 
so blind ! 

Practice, — For the sake of Jesus 
and His Church, cross swords with 
sophists and politicians. 

Tuesday. 

" Master, we know that Thou art a true speaker, and 
teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest 
Thou fur any man/'— ^S^. Matthew xxii. 16. 

Thought, — Mistrust those who 
praise you much, even though the 
praises be your due. It is a snare 
which through your simplicity is laid 
to entrap j'ou. They may exalt your 
truthfulness, your impartiality, but 
only that they may obtain from you 
a word against authority, a word con- 
trary to charity, a word that may 
compromise and ensure your fall. 

Prayer. — Jesus, teach me to be in- 
different to praise ; grant that I may 
never be dazzled by it. 

Practice, — Mistrust flattery. 



268 a thought for 

Wednesday. 

**Tell us therefore what Thou dost thick, is it lawful 
to give trioute to Csesar, or not?*' — St. Matthew 
xxii. 17. 

Thought. — The snare is laid with 
admirable precision. If Jesus an- 
swers, ^' It is permitted to give tribute 
to Csescir," they will denounce Him 
as having recognized the rule of Rome 
over Judea, and therefore as an enemy 
to His country. If He says : '* It is not 
permitted to give tribute," they will 
denounce Him to the lieutenants of 
Caesar. The Herodians are there, 
ready to hand Him over to tlie power 
which snpjTorts their king. This will 
often be the position of the Church in 
the world. 

Prayer, — Jesns, grant me prudence 
in dealing with those who only seek 
to compromise the preachers of the 
Gospel and the defenders of the 
Church. 

Practice, — Be circumspect in your 
relations with worldly men. 



EACn DAY OF THE YEAR. 269 

Thuesday. 

'• But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said. Why do 
you tempt me, ye hypocrites ? '"'—St, MatthewxKu. 
81. 

Thought. — ^Unmask the hypocrite, 
let him know that he is found out. 
The simplicity of the dove is useless 
without the prudence of the serpent. 
Humility, mildness, and charity 
should not prevent us from calling 
things and persons by their right 
names. Love one another, but detest 
the hypocrite. Learn of Jesus. He is 
meek and humble of heart, but He does 
not hesitate to unmask the hypocrite. 

Prayer. — Jesus, teach me to be 
simple but prudent ; mild, but bold ; 
humble, but free like Thee. 

Practice. — Uphold truth and right, 
fear not to wound the politician who 
seeks to suppress the one and the 
other. 

Friday. 

" Whose image and inscription is this? "—St. Matthew 
xxii 20. 

Thought. — Whose image and in- 



270 A THOUGHT FOB 

scription are those engraved upon 
j^our heart ? Are they the image and 
inscription of Csesar, the prince of 
this world? Yes, if your thoughts 
and aspirations tend only towards the 
worldly goods and pleasures and 
honors which belong to Csesar and 
are granted by him. Then you are a 
slave and tributary to Caesar — i.e,^ to 
whoever is powerful in this world. 
Yet in spite of all that you can do, 
you will never efface the marks of the 
image of God in you ; you will never 
be able to forget His name, or that 
law which He has engraved in the 
bottom of your soul, to enlighten and 
guide you, and by which you will be 
judged and condemned. 

Prayer, — Jesus, reinstate the Di- 
vine likeness in my soul, engrave upon 
it Thy name and the name of Thy 
Father. 

Practice. — Keep always within 
your mind the image and name of 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 271 

God by imitating His Divine perfec- 
tion and by repeating the Divine 
name. 

Saturday. 

" Render thert^fore to Caesar the things that are 
Cse ar's, and to God the things that are God's."— 
iSt. Matthew xxii. 21. 

Thought. — Give every one his due. 
Give to Caesar tribute and temporal 
and worldly homage ; to God the ho- 
mage of ourselves, all that we are, all 
that we have, all that we are able to 
do. Give only temporal homage to 
Caesar, but to God give temporal as 
well as spiritual homage, body as well 
as soul, exterior as well as interior tri- 
bute. God has absolute and entire 
right to everything in us and around 
us. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou art almighty 
upon earth as in heaven, may Thy 
kingdom come. Thy will be done upon 
earth as it is in heaven. 

Practice, — Acknowledge God as 
the source of everything. 



m 



272 A THOUGHT FOR 



'* Behold a certain rnler came up and adored Him."-- 

jSL Matthew is. 18. 

Thought. — Are you in trouble? 
Go to Jesus. Transport yourself in 
thought to the foot of the throne 
where He sits at the riglit hand of 
the Father, or throw yourself at the 
foot of the altar where He dwells, that 
He may be sacrificed to His Father 
and give Himself up to you. If you 
are a prince, like Jairus, who was the 
Prince of the Synagogue, humble 
yourself, acknowledge the majest}^, 
power, and goodness of Jesus ; lay 
before Him your wants aud your de- 
sires. He can do all He wishes ; all 
He wishes is your good. 

Prayer. — Jesus, why do I not fly 
to Thee in the moment of trouble? 
Thy only thought in heaven or upon 
our altars is to succor us. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 273 

Practice, — Often visit Jesus, pre- 
sent in the most Blessed Sacrament. 

Monday. 

" Lord, my dau2;liter is even now dead ; but come, lay 
Thy hand on her, and she shall live."— /S.^. Matthew 
ix. 18. 

Thought, — Even if j^our soul is dead 
to grace by sin, go to Jesus, say to 
Him : " Lord, my soul has lost its 
spiritual life, lay but Thy hand upon 
me, and my soul shall live again.'' 

Prayer, — Jesus, remember that 
Thou didst come down from heaven, 
that Thou still dwellest upon our al- 
tars to save mankind. Take pity, 
then, upon my misery. 

Practice, — Have recourse to Jesus 
when you have committed any fault. 

Tuesday. 

"And Jesus, rising up, followed him, with his 
disciples."— /S^. Matthew ix. 19. 

Thought, — Be prompt and ready 
to oblige. Actions are better than 
words. Jesus rises without a word, 



274 A THOUGHT FOK 

and follows the Prince of the Svna- 
gogue. As in the speech of onr Lord, 
so in His conduct we may notice a 
precision and a decision both calm and 
rapid, strong and mild, which is a 
mark of God. 

Prayer, — Jesjis, grant that I may 
follow the inspiration of zeal and 
charity with docility and promptitude. 

Practice, — Do not hesitate a mo- 
ment when there is question of hon- 
oring God, or serving our neighbor. 

Wednesday. 

"If I shall touch only His e:armeTit, I shall be 
healed."— A^iJ. Matthew ix. 21. 

Thought. — In the Holy Commu- 
nion we not only touch His garment — 
that is, the Eucharistic veil beneath 
which He is concealed — we not only 
touch God Himself, but we become 
united to, incorporated with, Him, or 
rather He unites Himself to, and is 
incorported with, us. Thus do we 
become, in a still more real manner, 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 275 

living* members of that body called 
the Church, whose Head and Chief is 
Jesus Christ. 

Prayer. — Jesus, by Thy contact 
with me in the Holy Communion, 
cure me of my weaknesses, my lan- 
guor, and my miseries. 

Practice, — Have boundless confi- 
dence in the almighty power of God, 
present to us in the Holy Commu- 
nion. 

Thursday. 

" Be of good heart, daughter, thy faith hath made thee 
whole."— /S'i^. Matthew ix. %-i. 

Thought. — Jesus can refuse nothing 
to faith. His word and honor are 
pledged to it. His word, inasmuch 
as He has proclaimed a hundred 
times that all things are possible to 
him who believes. His honor, for 
how could Jesus abandon any one 
who confides in Him ? Otherwise 
He would compromise His truth, His 
goodness, and His power. Jesus can 



276 A THOUGHT TOR 

save me. He desires my salvation, 
lie has promised me it ; I know it and 
believe it. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I believe, but 
strengthen my faith ; I hope, but in- 
crease my confidence. 

Practice. — Act according to the 
spirit of faith, relying rather on the 
infallible word and almighty goodness 
of Jesus than on your own strength 
and efibrts. 

Friday. 

"Give place, for the girl is rot dead, but eleepeth.' 
—jSt. MattJiew ix. 24. 

Thought.— AW hope apparently is 
lost. Yes, humanly speaking, the 
perfection to which you aspire is unat- 
tainable, the work you have under- 
taken cannot be done, nevertheless, 
continue to hope. This death is only 
apparent ; had it been real, it will be 
so short that it will be no more than a 
slumber. 

Prayer. — Jesus, we are lost with- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 277 

out Thee ; but with Thee all is gain- 
ed. My only hope is in Thee. 

Practice, — When the world mocks 
you, and laughs to scorn your confi- 
dence in God, persevere and trust in 
Him. 

Saturday. 

"And when tlie multitude was put forth. He went in 
and took h'-r by the hand, and the maid arose." 
—St. Matthew ix. -ib. ' 

Thoitght. — Are you desirous that 
Jesus should enter into your soul ? 
Drive out the multitude, expel those 
many thoughts, that crowd of recol- 
lections, that multitude of desires, 
those innumerable passions. The 
hand is the instrument of action; 
without Jesus vour works are dead : 
your hand once touched by the hand 
of Jesus regains life; your actions 
joined to those of Jesus become ac- 
tions of life. 

Prayer. — Jesus, drive from out my 
mind and heart all that vexes and 



278 



A THOUGHT FOB 



troubles me, all that hinders me from 
hearing Thy voice or receiving Thy 
influence. Take me by the hand 
and raise me up, otherwise I must 
remain motionless, senseless as the 
dead. 
PraGtioe, — Be guided by Jesus, 



EACH BAY OF THE YEAR. 279 



ffl:tornts=:tourtf) Suntra^ after 
Pentecost. 

*'He that readeth, let him understand."— /S'^. Matthew 
xxiv. 15. 

Thought, — Just as the material 
world is a book, so is the social world. 
One can read the future by the 
present. The revolutions of our 
time are only types of that final revo- 
lution which will bring with it utter 
ruin to the wicked, eternal triumph to 
the just. 

Prayer. — Jesus, enlighten me, 
that I may now judge persons and 
things as Thou wilt judge them at the 
last day. 

Practice. — Recognize the hand of 



God in passing events. 



Monday. 

)e then gre 
itthev) xxiv. 

Thought. — There is no victory 



For there shall be then great tribulation."— ^S'/J 
Mattfiev) xxiv. 21. 



280 A THOUGHT FOR 

without a battle. Great tribulation 
announces and prepares the way for 
great manifestations of the wisdom, 
goodness, and justice of the Almighty 
King. The elements may unite, na- 
tions may be overthrown, you have 
only to place your trust in God and 
you will be tranquil in the tranquil- 
lity of God Himself. 

Prayer. — Jesus, what need I fear 
from man? What have I to fear 
from the elements ? Thou, who art 
Master of the one and the other, wilt 
know how to protect those who be- 
long to Thee. 

Practice, — -Be calm in the midst of 
tribulation. 

Tuesday. 

"For there shall rise false Christs and false prophets.'' 
—St. Matthew xxiv. 24. 

Thought. — The most fearful of all 
tribulations will be that of false doc- 
trine. Error, especially in religious 
matters, is the most deadly of all 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAE. 281 

Bcourges. Famine, pestilence, and 
war take life from the body. Passion, 
human respect, and vice degrade and 
enslave the heart ; yet so long as the 
principles of faith remain there is 
hope. When once the mind is cor- 
rupted the intellectual, moral, and 
religious life is gone for ever. 

Prayer. — Jesus, teach me to com- 
bat falsehood, to unmask false pro- 
phets, and to confound the impious. 

Practice, — Zeal for the propagation 
of good books. 

Wednesday. 

** Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the 
eagles also be gathered together." — St. Matthew 
xxiv. 28. 

Thought, — The body of Jesus is 
upon the cross, there to be immolat- 
ed ; it is also upon the altar, there to 
be victim, and nourishment for us; 
again, it is in heaven, reposing there 
in glory ; in fine, we shall see the 
body of Jesus descending on a bril- 



282 A THOUGHT FOR 

liant cloud at the day of judgment. 
Wherever Jesus is, He draws towards 
Him the eagles — i.e,^ those pure, brave 
souls, those minds whose sight is pure 
and fine, those wills whose flight is 
strong and rapid. 

Prayer, — Jesus, teach me to fly 
incessantly towards Thee in thought, 
memory, and desire. 

Practice. — Often pay a visit to the 
Most Blessed Sacrament, 

Thursday. 

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in 
heaven."— /S'^. Matthew xxiv. 30. 

Thought, — The cross is the sign, 
the standard of Jesus Christ. Who 
are they that shall be called to range 
themselves under this noble banner? 
Those marked with the sign of the 
cross, those for whom this sacred sign 
has not been merely a simple ceremo-' 
ny ; those who have carried the cross, 
who have suffered, who have been 
humbled, who have been crucified. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 283 

Prayer. — Jesus, inspire me with 
love for the cross and courage to 
carry it. Thou savest souls by the 
cross alone ; I cannot be saved, nor 
can I save others, without it. 

Practice. — ^Make the sign of the 
cross with faith and confidence. 

Feiday. 

**And they (His angels) shall gather together His 
elect from tae four winds."— /S^. Matthew xxiv. 31. 

Thought, — See the elect now risen 
and glorious, standing round Jesus ! 
Not one particle of their ashes that 
has not been found by the angels ! 
Thus nothing pertaining to the body 
of Jesus, which is the Church, can be 
lost. Every single good thought, 
word, action, and desire will be re- 
membered at the day of judgment. 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant that I may 
not lose one instant of this temporal, 
fleeting life, so that in the next life 
these fleeting instants may be changed 
into so many degrees of eternal glory. 



284 A THOUGHT FOB 

Practice. — Let us not lose an in- 
stant — time is short. 

Saturday. 

" Heaven and earth shall pis'', but My words shall not 
pass."— /S^. Matthew xxiv. 35. 

Thought. — What folly it is to work 
for fortune or glory, which, with 
heaven and earth, must pass away ! 
Nothing is solid save what is built 
upon the Word of God. Every 
thought, word, and action which does 
not tend to the glory or service of 
Jesus Christ is vain and useless. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I will imitate Thy 
word and example. All else is vain 
and deceitful. 

Practice. — Despise the world and 
all passing things. 



EACH DAT OF THE YEAR. 385 



ADVENT. 



**And thpre shall be signs in the snn, and in the 
moon, and in the Btars."— /S'^. Luke xxi. 25. 

ThoughL — Let us learn to read in 
the book of nature. God is always 
speaking to us there. The perfect re- 
gularity existing in the usual course of 
things shows forth the wisdom, kind- 
ness, and power of the Creator, and 
teaches us to observe the same regu- 
larity in our lives. 

We should also learn a lesson from 
the accidents, and confusion, and ap- 
parent disorder which from time to 
time come upon us. The sudden fall 
of stars, eai*thquakes, inundations, 
famine, and pestilence all have some 
divine meaning, and we should look 



286 A THOUGHT FOR 

upon them as signs of justice coming 
from the avenging hand of the Lord, 
and we should take them to heart as 
solemn warnings. 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant that I may 
understand the signs of Thy coming, 
that I may foresee Thy just anger, 
and disarm it by prayer and mortifi- 
cation. 

Practice. — See and hear God every- 
where and in all things. 

Monday. 

"Man witbering away for fear and expectation of 
what Bhall come upon the whole earth."— aS'^ 
Luke xxi. 26. 

Thought, — God frightens us in 
order to save us. These formidable 
catastrophes which overpower nature 
itself are the direct work of His hand. 
It is the last supreme effort made by 
His mercy to convince the unbeliever, 
to convert the impiou^ and to fore- 
warn us of the rigor of justice. And 
at the end of the world these signs 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 287 

will be repeated, by means of which 
our Lord Jesus Christ will offer re- 
pentance to the wicked, presenting 
Himself for the last time as their Sa- 
viour before appearing as their Judge. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou strikest me 
with Thy hand of mercy. Thou castest 
down all that is around me, that I 
may withdraw myself from worldly 
things, that I may give my heart to 
the things of heaven. Thou wouldst 
raise me up, so that I may never fall 
again ; Thou wouldst teach me to re- 
sist the torrent that carries so many 
poor souls away ; Thou wouldst have 
me stand firm in the way of salvation. 
In Thy goodness Thou discoverest to 
me an imaginary hell here on earth 
that I may foresee the horrors of the 
eternal reality. 

Practice. — Profit by the too real 
evils of this life to separate yourself 
from all the attractions it may offer to 
your gaze. 



288 a thought for 

Tuesday. 

*' For the powers of heaven shall be moved."— ;S^. 
Luke xxi. 26. 

Thought. — In the material order of 
things those bodies that we call at- 
traction, repulsion, gravitation, affi- 
nity, and cohesion will some day be 
suspended, and will at once cease to 
act ; the stars and elements that thev 
maintained in actual order will come 
in contact, with one another, clash, and 
finally dissolve. . • . 

Thus is it in the moral order of 
things, the strongest minds hesitate in 
their faith and principles, men of most 
determined will and energy waver in 
their resolutions ; hence at times a 
social chaos, worse by far than any 
material chaos. 

Prayer, — Jesus, guide me through 
this intellectual, social, moral chaos, 
which seems even now a prelude to 
the disorder of the last day. 

Practice,— Vxii your trust in God, 



1 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 289 

confiding in Him alone, tlins being 
able to say, " "Who shall separate us 
from the charity and love of our Lord 
Jesus Christ 2" 

"Wednesday. 

**ABd they shall see the Son of man coming on a 
clond with great power and majesty."— aS"^. Luke 
xxi. 27. 

Thought,— AVds ! it will be too late 
for those who only begin to look up 
to jSim then. Yet He is always with 
us. He is in heaven at the right hand 
of His Father, but He is also on our 
altars, in the tabernacle. A cloud of 
glory hides Him from us in the hea- 
vens; here on earth the symbol 
" bread '' conceals His majesty from 
our sight, nevertheless He is here. 
My Lord ! my Sovereign ! my Sa- 
viour and my Judge ! Thou art here ! 
Unseen, Thou seest us one and all. 
Thou seest me, and I shall have to 
render an account of all my thoughts, 
words, actions to Him. 



290 A THOUGHT FOE 

Prayer. — Jesus, for the future I 
would walk in the ways of salvation ; 
all my thoughts, words, and deeds 
shall tend to Thy service and to the 
greater glory of Thy name. 

Practice, — Have Jesus ever before 
your eyes, firstly as God, and secondly 
as Man — not in His body, which can- 
not be in all places at the same time, 
but by the eye of His majesty, which 
has already judged your actions, and 
has acquitted or condemned you. 

Thursday. 

**Look np, and lift your heads, because your re- 
demption is at hand."--/5^. Luke xxi. 28. 

Thought, — Te just, lift up your 
heads ; those scourges, awful precur- 
sors of the final judgment, shall only 
frighten the impious. To you just 
men the hour of deliverance and re- 
demption is at hand. You can look 
your persecutors boldly in the face, 
saying to them, " But a short while, 



1 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 291 

and your turn will come. Triumph 
in your wickedness, despisers of all 
truth and justice ! but hasten on your 
victory, for the morrow shall see truth 
avenged and justice done.'' 

Prayer. — Jesus, in Thee only do I 
confide ! Thou art my support and 
strength. With Thee for Protector, 
I can despise the threats and anger of 
the powerful. They may tyrannize 
and oppress, load us with chains, 
banish us from our country, put us to 
death even, but Thou, O Lord ! at 
last shalt conquer, and with Thee we 
also shall triumph. 

Practice. — Despise the world and 
all its threats, 

Friday. 

"This generation shall not pass away until all things 
are fulfilled."— /S'^. Luke xxi. 32. 

Thought. — Everything in the world 
tends to the last judgment ; every- 
thing prepares the way for the defeat 



292 A THOUGHT FOR 

of Lucifer and his wicked followers, 
and the solemn triumph of our Lord 
Jesus Christ and the good. It is for 
this reason that those partial judg- 
ments are sent which, being repeated 
during each generation, become dread- 
ful warnings and shadows of the last 
and general judgment. The Deluge, 
the burning of Sodom, the feast of 
Baltassar, those revolutions against 
society and state, all those sudden and 
terrible changes which strike down 
now a single family, now a whole na- 
tion, are only examples of what will 
be seen at the last day. 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant me know- 
ledge and docility to understand and 
profit by the warnings of Thy justice 
and mercy. 

Practice, — You must not be scan- 
dalized at the triumph of the wicked ; 
the day is not far off when you shall 
see justice done to both. 



each day of the year. 293 
Saturday. 

"Heaven and earth shall pass hway; but my word 
shall not pass away."--/S(f. ImTc6 xxi 32. 

Thought, — Wherefore should I fix 
my mind on passing things ? The 
earth whose soil I tread turns upon its 
axis and moves round the sun; the 
sun itself and all the starry bodies 
whirl round one another, and around 
some unknown centre. In the midst 
of this continual revolution one thing 
alone, . . . the word of Jesus Christ, 
is firm and settled. All things pass 
and disappear — nothing remains firm, 
nothing ever returns ! Time, for- 
tune, pleasure, honor, speech, and 
human thought — all, all are lost. No ; 
all that has been thought, spoken, or 
desired in honor or in the service 
of Him whose word never passes 
away. . . is remembered and re- 
tained. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou slialt be the 
only object of my love, the never- 



294 A THOUGHT FOK 

changing centre of all my thoughts and 
actions. 

Practice. — Think, speak, work, 
and live for Jesus only. 



EACH DAT OF THE TEAK. 295 



<Secont» Sunirag in ^"aiimt 

"Art Thou He that art to come, or look we for an- 
other?"— aS'^. Matthew xl 3. 

Thought, — Our mission is like that 
of John the Baptist — viz., to an- 
nounce the coming of Jesus Christ, 
and to prepare the way for Him. As 
soon as He comes our work is done. 
What matters it if we are left in the 
power of our persecutors, if only 
Christ be recognized and known? 
Those Christians who are able, and 
yet refuse to help those engaged in 
preaching the advent of our Lord, are 
cowardly and ungrateful. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou art He that 
art to come. The world by its crimes 
retarded Thy coming for four thou- 
sand years. I by my faults hinder 
Thy coming to me and to others. 



296 A THOUGHT FOR 

Practice, — Forget yourself entirely 
for Jesus Christ. 

Monday. 

"The blind see, the dead ri=e, the poor have the Gos- 
pel preached to them," St. Matthew xi. 5. 

Thought. — Jesus gives proof of His 
mission and of His divinity by His 
omnipotence and His bounty — His 
omnipotence attested by His miracles, 
His bounty acknowledged by the per- 
son whom He cures. Let us admire 
this gradual progress. Jesus, after 
making known the most wonderful of 
miracles — viz., the raising of the dead 
to life — makes known a miracle still 
more wonderful, the preaching of the 
Gospel to the poor. Jesus proclaims 
the Divinity of the Church by its in- 
struction of the poor in the simple 
catechism of religion. Human pride 
does not condescend to lower itself to 
the poor of this world, unless perhaps 
to corrupt them or raise them in se- 
dition. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 297 

Prayer. — Jesus, grant me the pri- 
vilege of helping Thee in preaching 
the Gospel to the poor. 

Practice, — It is always in your 
power to help and comfort the poor. 
Do not forget, in extending a hand of 
relief to their corporal wants, to offer 
them spiritual help and comfort. 

Tuesday. 

** And blessed io he that shall not be scandalized in 
me."— /^«5, Matthew xi. 6. 

Thought, — This is another sign of 
the divine mission — I mean the contra- 
diction that one meets with when 
doing the work of the Lord ; for in 
doing His work you put yourself in 
direct opposition to the sinner. Your 
work stands as an obstacle to his work, 
your word is a contradiction of his 
word, your conduct condemns his con- 
duct. From which we are to con- 
clude that either he will reform, and 
yon will be the means of saving him, 



298 A THOUGHT FOB 

or he, remaining stubborn in his own 
will, must perish miserably. 

Prayer. — Jesus, ought I to be 
ashamed of fighting in holy warfare 
when Thou hast so courageously led 
the way ? Man has done all in his 
power to prevent Thee from doing 
good, from saving souls ; must I then 
w^onder that they should try their ut- 
most to overthrow my good designs 
either by the refusal of their co-opera- 
tion or by their deadly opposition ? 

PracUee, — Be not discouraged at 
the sight of the inactivity of your fel- 
low-Catholics or by the persecution of 
the wicked. 

Wednesday. 

** What went you out: into the desert to see ? A reed 
shaken with the wind ? '"'^St. Matthew xi. 7, 

Thought. — Constanc}^ is the first 
thing necessary to the just man ; it is 
the first step towards holiness. Con- 
stancy is a firm resolution, an unal- 
terable determination to always pur- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 299 

sue the object we have in view, and 
on no account to be ever discouraged 
or disconcerted. It should surmount 
all difficulties, bearing up against tri- 
bulation and persecution, conquering 
passion. Come what may, the just 
man remains immovable. The saint 
is ever the same ; everything may 
change around him, but he will stand 
alone sooner than yield to the storm. 
Like the mountains which tower so 
proudly above the earth, like the rocks 
against which the winds and waves 
may break in fury without shaking 
their foundation in the least, so will 
his views remain unshaken and his 
will remain firm in spite of all that 
the crowd may do to make it waver. 

Prayer. — O Jesus ! in the midst of 
this changeable world where can I 
find the invincible strength of will and 
purpose necessary for doing good ? In 
Thee, in Thee only, O Lord. Thou art 
infallible truth, immutable holiness. 



300 A THOUGHT FOR 

Practice, — Listen to the words of 
Jesus by faitli and good intention, 
and endeavor to imitate His conduct 
by charity. 

Thursday. 

*' Bat what went you out to see ? A man clothed in soft 
garments ? "— aS'^ Matthewsi. 8. 

Thought — The effeminate dress of 
courtiers is generally a sign of a sen- 
sual and worldly life. The just man 
is dressed simplj^ ; his whole demeanor 
is modest. Not only the life he leads, 
but the very sight of him, is a con- 
demnation of those men of pampered 
tastes, those lovers of luxury. And 
what are they ? But too often the 
humble servants of some one greater 
than themselves, who in turn is slave 
and servant to his passions, or else is 
governed ignominiously by his minis- 
ters or his favorites. 

Prayer, — Jesus, may I ever hate 
and despise the effeminate, sensual life 
of worldly people ; draw me closer to 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 301 

Thy cross, which is the only true and 
glorious ornament of a Christian. 

Practice. — Be simple, j^et resolute, 
in your thoughts, words, and actions. 

Friday. 

''But what went you out to sftf? A prophet? Yea, I 
tell you, more than a prophet.. "—/S^. Matthew xi. 9. 

Thought, — Separated from the 
world rather by interior solitude than 
by exterior solitude, the just man no 
longer judges things or persons ac- 
cording as the world judges them, but 
by means of the double light wdiich he 
has received from God — by means of 
reason and faith. Judging by means 
of reason, he is man, he is wise, he is 
just ; by means of faith, he is a Chris- 
tian, he is holy, he is a prophet, and 
more than a prophet — prophet, for the 
future is revealed to him by faith, 
w^iicli promises him sight of God in 
glory ; more than prophet, for with- 
out touching on the future he already 
sees the hand and presence of God 



302 A THOUGHT FOR 

where another sees only the hand of 
man or the result of chance ; just as 
St. John the Baptist distinguislied our 
Lord as Saviour, whilst the people 
took Him to be one mortal like them- 
selves. Through faith, then, the 
Christian sees God in all things, even 
in His humbling Himself and suffer 
ing for us upon the cross. 

Prayer, — Jesus, make me to feel 
that Thou art ever present, contriving 
everything that may tend to my per- 
fection in this life and my happiness 
in the next. 

Practice. — Bless the Lord at all 
times, but more especially in times of 
trial and affliction. 

Saturday. 

" Behold, I send my angel before Thy face, who shall 
prepare Thy way before Thee."— ^i. Matthew 
xi. 10. 

Thought, — This is wliat we also 
have to do. Every Christian is sent 
to prepare the way for Jesus Christ, 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 303 

thougli it is more especially the duty 
of those consecrated to God. Let us 
look back and see how St. John the 
Baptist fulfilled this glorious work. 
Not only did he astonish the world by 
the sanctity and mortification of his 
life, and by his contempt of all worldly 
honor, but he also showed the rich the 
folly of their ways of life, and opened 
their eyes to the vice into which they 
had fallen. The Pharisees and cour- 
tiers, the publicans and sinners, sol- 
diers and magistrates, all lieard the 
condemnation of their conduct pro- 
nounced by this zealous and intrepid 
precursor of our Lord. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me know- 
ledge and courage to prepare the 
hearts of my fellow-creatures to re- 
ceive Thy divine and kingly rule. 

Practice. — Have but one thought, 
but one wish — viz., that Jesus may 
reign over all hearts. 



304 



A THOUGHT FOR 



" Who art thou ? ''—St. John i. 19. 

TJiouglit. — John tlie Baptist lived 
a lonely and mortified life in the de- 
sert. It was not necessary for him to 
show himself to become known. No ; 
the more you try to fly the world and 
all its pleasures and deceits, the more 
you will find it desirous of knowing 
and admiring you, and in its wonder 
at your conduct it will say to you, Tu 
quis esf ^^Who art thou?" Alas! 
the world might ask us, though in a 
far different sense, " Christian, who 
art thou ? Minister of God, who art 
thou? Monk or religious, who art 
thou ? " Judging from our actions, the 
world would take us for pagans or 
worldlings, but never for Christians. 
Let us not astonish the world by the 
contrast of our conduct with what we 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 305 

profess to do ; let us rather contrast 
their conduct and maxims with our 
good principles and honest way of life. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me grace so 
to imitate Thy virtues as to be mis- 
taken, like Thy precursor, St. John 
the Baptist. 

Practice, — Make an open profes- 
sion of your faith in all things. 

Monday. 

*' And he confessed, and did not deny ; and he con- 
fessed : I am not the Cnrist.' — St. John i. 20. 

Thought. — John refused a name 
not his own ; we, alas ! too often re- 
fuse what is ours by right of baptism. 
"We blush to acknowledge w^ho we 
are, and to appear as we should, as 
Catholics. St. John feared not to 
forfeit the popularity of the world in 
declaring that he was not the Christ ; 
but we fear to lose our position, to 
compromise our interests or the chance 
of advancement, in making open 
avowal of our faith. 



306 A THOIJGHT FOR 

Prayer, — O Jesiis! may I never 
blush to acknowledge Thee as my 
Saviour ; may I never be ashamed of 
Thy Cross, Thy Gospel, or Thy holy 
Church. 

Practice, — Prove yourself a Chris- 
tian by your actions, but without 
human respect or ostentation. 

Tuesday. 

"What then ? Art thou Elia^ ? And he said : I am 

Thought. — Our manner of life 
should be such that we may be known 
as servants of God; but we should 
not try to pass for what we are not. 
St. John tells the Jews that he is not 
Elias. He who humbles himself shall 
be exalted. Our Lord declares that 
he is Elias ; and if he be not really 
Elias in body, we may almost say that 
the sanctity of his life and the impor- 
tance of his mission make him £:reater 
than Elias. He resembles Elias in 



EACH DAT OF THE YEAR. 307 

his rnde, austere way of living ; and 
as from Elias bursts forth impressive 
eloquence, startling, striking as the 
lightning, eo does it burst from St. 
John the Baptist. His mission is 
higher even than that of Elias. He 
is sent to announce the coming of our 
Lord. 

Prayer, — O Jesus ! like John the 
Baptist, I will live to announce the 
salvation which Thou offerest to man- 
kind ; and like Elias, I will foretell 
the last day when Thou wilt descend 
to judge all men. 

Practice, — Let Jesus be the princi- 
pal and entire object of your thoughts, 
words, and deeds. 

Wednesday. 

"What sayest thou of thyself ? ''—SL John i. 22. 

Thought, — Nothing is gi'ander or 
nobler than a truthful man ! nothing 
more rare ! Who will dare to say 
that he is such? There is always 



308 A THOUGHT FOR 

something within ns that we are 
anxious to hide. It is easy to believe 
that man should wish to conceal his 
faults — natural pride prompts him to 
it ; but what is strange, indeed, is 
that we should appear more ashamed 
of our virtues and our good actions 
than of our vices and our bad deeds. 
A Catholic is ashamed to own his re- 
ligion, to appear Catholic in word and 
deed by observing the commandments 
and by frequenting the sacraments, 
whilst the unbeliever boasts of his im- 
piety, the libertine glories in his de- 
baucheries. 

Prayer. — Jesus, if I am ashamed 
to call myself Thy disciple, Thou wilt 
blush to call Thyself my Master. If 
I disown Thy name and Thj^ cross, 
Thou wilt disown me in my cowardice 
and weakness. Give me courage to 
feel and act as becomes a Catholic. 

Practice. — Pay no heed to the con- 
tempt and sneers of this world. 



each day of the year. 309 
Thijesday. 

** I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. 
Make straight the way of the Lord/'—zS'^. John 
i. ;33. 

Thought. — How humble, and yet 
how sublime! I am but a voice — 
meaning, in myself I am naught ! 
What is the voice left to itself? It is 
but a vain sound ; but here it is ani- 
mated and guided in its course by 
God Himself. John is, then, the 
voice of God. In humbling himself 
he is exalted. 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant me to be as 
Thy voice, and to be only Thine. May 
I speak only with the view of prepar- 
ing the hearts and minds of others 
to receive the gifts of faith and grace. 

Practice, — Make ir a rule to speak 
of Jesus or in His honor. If, as St. 
Paul says, all our actions — even the 
meals we take — can be done for the 
greater glory of God, how much more 
honor can be rendered by our words 
and good example ! 



310 a thought for 

Fkiday. 

"There hath stood one in the midst of you, whom 
you know not/'— /S^. John i. 26. 

Thought. — This unknown one is 
still in the midst of lis. Alas ! He is 
still unknown. Nowadays infidels — 
that is, the greater part of mankind — 
know Him not. Protestants refuse to 
believe His real presence in the sacra- 
ments of His love. Schismatics will 
not recognize them in the person of 
His Vicar here on* earth. Catholics 
forget Him, or oflfend Him so much 
that one w^ould think they did not 
believe in Him at all. There are 
many who by their position in the 
world should live solely for Him and 
by Him — I mean monks and religious 
of different orders : how manv of 

7 V 

these are there not who scarcely think 
of Him, even during the short hours 
they are supposed to pass at the foot 
of the altar! 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant that I may 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 311 

be diflFei-ent from the crowd of persons 
who coldly pass Thee by, slighting 
Thee, and showing Thee such indif- 
ference ! 

Practice, — Remember always that 
you live, act, and combat under the 
eye of Jesus, your King and Judge. 

Saturday. 

" The latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose." 

—SLJohnU27. 

Thought. — If St. John the Baptist 
is not worthy to loose the latchet of a 
shoe upon the foot of Jesus Christ, 
how unworthy, then, am I to partake 
in great undertakings, such as preach- 
ing His Gospel, and above all, receiv- 
ing Him in the Holy Eucharist. I 
should be too highly honored in hav- 
ing confided to me the humblest em- 
ployment in the service of the Church ; 
I should be happy in the very List 
ranks of the Catholic Rrmj, The 
least service rendered to Jesus Christ 



312 A THOUGHT FOR 

is worth far more than the highest 
dignity of the state. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou hast no need 
of my services ; permit me, neverthe- 
less, to do something in Tiiy honor, 
not with the hopes of praise and mer- 
ited applause, but to prove my love 

for Thee. 

Practice -^oxiox and serve our 
Lord in the person of your fellow- 
creatures, in rendering them every 
little service in your power. 



EACH DAT OF THE TEAE. 313 



iFourti) Sunftag of ^trfatnt. 

" The -word of the Lord was made known unto John 
the son of Zachary in the desert."— /5^. Luke iii. 2. 

Thought, — Jesus speaks in the wil- 
derness ; it is there, in solitude and in 
silence, that He speaks to ns either by 
secret inspiration or hy the mouth of 
our superiors. The world is govern- 
ed by men who are separated from 
the world, free of will and action ; 
for a king never mixes among the 
crowd ; he keeps apart, alone, and at 
a distance, showing himself. but rarely 
to his people, and only on grand oc- 
casions and in times of peril and diffi- 
culty. To govern well or give sound 
judgment, we should hold aloof and 
look on things from a distance. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I await the sound 
of Thy voice. Perhaps Thou hast al- 
ready spoken to me, but such has been 



314 A THOUGHT FOR 

the noise and din around me that I 
liave heard nothing. I will seek Thee 
in the wilderness, where all is tran- 
quil and undisturbed. 

Practice, — Prepare a solitude with- 
in your heart, and Jesus will speak to 
you there, and will make known His 
word. 

# Monday. 

*' And he came into all the coiiEtry about the Jordan, 
preaching the baptism of penance for the remiesiou 
of sins."— /S^. Luke lii. 3. 

Thought, — Remain in solitude un- 
til Grod calls j^ou from it — that is to 
say, until your duty compels you to 
leave it in order to fullil the obliga- 
tions of cliarity or propriety. And 
when again in public, preach by word 
if you are authorized to do so, and by 
example if such be not your duty — 
preach purification (pajMsmicvi) , for 
the world is but soil and stain ; and 
penance {^poeniteniia)^ for it is but sin. 

Prayer, — O Jesus ! grant that my 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 315 

only ambition may be to make Thee 
better known and loved by men. 

Practice, — Do not let one single 
day pass without doing something for 
the glory of Jesus. 

Tuesday. 

** A voice of one crying in the wilderness."— aS^^. Luike 
iii 4. 

Thought, — Let us cry out and 
speak boldly of the Lord, even in the 
desert, when those around us refuse 
to listen or pretend not to understand. 
Our intellect and the power of speech 
are given to us solely that we may 
praise the Lord, and make others 
praise Him. It is not for us to say 
that success shall crown our efforts; 
all that we have to do is to speak, to 
make the effort. But I am alone! 
there is none to hear me ! Persevere, 
nevertheless, and, like to St. John 
the Baptist, you will soon ba sur- 
rounded by the crowd. 

Prayer. — Jesus, may 1 ever echo 



316 A THOUGHT FOR 

Thy praises ; may I ever help in that 
most important work, the redemption 
of the world, by invoking Thy holy 
name and by preaching Thy doctrine. 
Practice. — Speak of God, in the 
desert, even when abandoned, when 
completely isolated from tlie rest of 
mankind. A single word is enough 
to obtain a conversion or to forward 
some good work. 

Wednesday. 

" Prepare ye the way of the Lo-d. make straight His 
paths."— /Si^. Luke iii 4. 

Thought, — Jesus is det^irous of en- 
tering into our souls. The road that 
should lead Him towards us is our 
good-will, and the pathway by which 
He may penetrate into the depths of 
our souls is holy desire and upriglit 
intention. Let us then clear the way 
of all obstacles, casting from our minds 
all irregular affection, smoothing and 
mending the paths, for when the road 
is long and winding it is easy to lose 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 317 

one's self. Above all, let iis firmly 
recall our desires and intentions, no 
longer allowing them to wander away 
from God, nor suffering tliem to linger 
or lose themselves in the seductive 
maze of worldly delight. 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant that Thy 
glory may be the only object of my 
words and actions, that they may have 
no other rule than Thy Holy Will. 

Practice, — Constantly renew and 
purify your intentions. 

Thursday. 

" Every valley shall be filled ; and every mountain 
and hill shall be brought low."— /S^. iMke iii. 5. 

Thought. — The valleys are meant 
to represent low", sensual, and world- 
ly inclinations ; the mountains are 
types of pride, and the hills represent 
vanity. Are you longing for Jesus to 
enter into your heart ? Raise up your 
inclinations, thoughts, desires ; cast 
off from you all that is earthly and un- 
clean ; rise out of the quagmires of 



318 A THOUGHT FOK 

sensuality and capidity. At the same 
time, do not forget to lower your 
pride and your pretensions to vanity ; 
in a word, be straightforward and 
simple. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me strength 
to resist the fascination that would 
draw me towards the things of earth 
and towards sensual pleasure ; give me 
strength to resist the outbursts of 
pride and the swell of vanity. 

Practice. — Walk evenly and regu- 
larly in the path of perfection, without 
being discouraged or cast down, and 
without being raised up with pre- 
sumption. 

Friday. 

" And the crooked [paths-] shaUbe made straight, and 
the rough ways plain. "—<Si. Luke lii. 5. 

Thought, — Rectify your intentions, 
moderate your passions, repress all ex- 
cess, correct yourself of your faults. 
Are you given to impatience, acquire 
sweetness of disposition. Are you 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK, 319 

lazy and Heglectful, stir yourself to 
itctivity. Are all 3'our thoughts cen- 
tred in self, do you seek self in every- 
thing, then forget self in order to 
think only of the glory of God ; inte- 
rest yourself in Him and in His crea- 
tures. 

Prayer, — Jesus, show me in what 
I must correct myself ; likewise 
strengthen in me tlie resolution of 
combating my faults. 

Practice.— Select one particular 
failing, and pursue it without ceasing, 
until you have completely conquered 
it. 

Saturday. 

^' And all flesh shall see the salvation of the Lord."— 
St. Lukeh). 6. 

Thought, — God deigns to make 
Himself visible to save ns. Not only 
does He take a soul like ours, but He 
also clothes Himself in flesh like to 
uur flesh. And, strange to say, there 
are men calling themselves Christians 



320 A THOUGHT FOE 

who acknowledge His power in great 
things, yet dispute it in little things. 
They will allow Him to be the Master 
of their souls, but not the king of 
their bodies. They grant the Church 
power in spiritual matters, but refuse 
it any voice in temporal and material 
affairs, as though time were not sub- 
ject to eternity, the material to the 
spiritual, as if the Word had not taken 
a body as well as a soul. 

p^^ye^. —Jesus, extend Thy reign 
over my body and its senses, as well 
as over* my soul and its powers ; com- 
mand me not only as a Christian, but 
also as a citizen and as a man. Thou 
art King of the worldly empire as 
Thou art King of the spiritual. 

Practice.— Si\ihordma.te the body 
to the mind, the worldly man to the 
religious, Caesar to Christ, and in 
time of combat exclaim, " It is better 
to obey God than man." 



EACH DAT OF THE YEAR. 321 



CHRISTMAS TIME. 



©ijristmai^ Mas* 

"And Joseph also went up ... to be enrolled 
with Mary, his espoused wife, who was with 
child.''— /S'i. LuJce ii. 4, 5. 

Thought. — We here see the King of 
kings, before His birth, obeying a 
king of earth. Augustus, however, 
whilst sending forth his edicts to the 
utmost limits of the East, little knew 
that on his part he was obeying the 
decrees of the King of kings. God 
had foretold that the Saviour should 
be born in Bethlehem. In order that 
this might be accomplished He made 
use of AugustuSj and through this 
prince the order was given for the 
census of the whole people. At the 
sight of those wars and revolutions 
that upset the world you feel inclined 
to imagine that God no longer gov- 



322 A THOUGHT FOR 

ems the world or tliose in it. Yoii 
are mistaken. God permits that 
these awful catastroplies should take 
place, just for the salvation and per- 
fection of this or that person whom 
the world knows not. 

Prayer. — Jesus, like to Thee, I 
will be guided by Tl:^y Providence, 
knowing that those wlio are over me 
are only Thy instruments. 

Practice, — Acknowledge Divine 
Providence in all things. 

Monday. 

"And she brought forth hrr first-born son/'— /5^. 
Luke \\. T. 

Thought, — Behold Him who shall 
crush the head of the serpent, who 
shall be blessed by all nations and 
tribes of the earth — Him, the ex- 
pected One of nations for four thou- 
sand years ! Behold, like to Moses, the 
prophet, but greater than Moses, the 
Star of Jar*ob, the occupant of tlie 
throne of David, whose sway shall 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAB. 323 

stretch from sea to sea ! Behold 
Him carrying the world upon His 
shoulder! He is the loosened stone 
of the mountain, which, after over- 
throwing the great powers of this 
world, shall rise up, forming itself 
into a great mountain, looking down 
npon the whole world. This is He, 
superior to all — and yet bow little is 
He ! The Angel said that He should 
be great, '' He shall be great/' 
"Sic erit magnus'^'^ ; but He is a lit- 
tle child who is now given to us ! 
jParvulum datus est nobis. 

Prayer, — O infant Jesus! Thou 
art as great and powerful in Tliy 
stable as when seated on the right 
hand of Thy Father in heaven. 

Practice, — Never judge by appear- 
ances. 

Tuesday. 

*' And she laid Him in a manger.'' — St. Luke xi. 7. 

Thought. — And she laid Him in a 
mangel* ! A manger ! Behold the 



324 A THOUGHT FOR 

cradle, the throne of the Son of man, 
of the 8on of God ! and jet a Chris- 
tian would esteem and seek for riches, 
comfort, honor! Rio erit magnus ! 
This Child shall be great, or, rather, 
is the only Great One. The poor are, 
thei'efore, greater than the rich; the 
sufferer is greater than the man of 
ease and comfort ; he that is despised 
by the world is greater than he whom 
the world honors ; and, in truth, 
riches make slaves of us, pleasure 
softens and corrupts us, and honor is 
only paid to those who sell themselves 
to obtain it. Let us seat ourselves at 
the humblest place, living a severe 
life, not looking after worldly goods ; 
then we shall be free and great like 
the Infant God. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou art poor, 
suffering, and despised, but I adore 
Thee. I would be poor with Thee, 
partaking of Thy sufferings, and shar- 
ing the contempt that is shown Thee. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 325 

Practice. — Sacrifice each day some- 
thing that the world esteems and seeks 
for with such uii worthy zeal. 

Wednesday. 

''Behold I bring you tidiog^ of great joy."— -aS^. Luke 
ii. 10. 

ThougJtt — What have these shep- 
herds done that they should be the 
first called to the crib of the Infant 
God? They were simple and poor, 
but there were many others like to 
them in poverty and simplicity. 
Why, then, were these preferred? 
They were at their posts, watching 
and guarding their flocks. Be you 
always at your post. However hum- 
ble, however rough may be your oc- 
cupation, if you fulfil your duty with 
obedience, God, seeing you thus em- 
ployed, will fill your heart with joy, 
and enlighten your mind when you 
least expect it. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Tliou alone art tlie 
joy of my soul ; in Thee alone can I 



326 A THOUGHT FOR 

find safety. Thon art the light of the 
intelligence and the giver of strength 

to the will. 

Fractice.—Tul&l your duty, no 
matter what may happen ; nothing 
will happen that God does not or- 
dain. 

Thuesda-T. 

" \nd this Phall be a !>ign unto yon. Tou shall find 
the Infint wrapped u, swaddling-cloihes, and laid 
in a maviger."— Si. Luke ii. )2. 

Thought.— How are we to recog- 
nize by this sigh a God, a Saviour ? 
God is majesty, glory, and power. 
The Saviour is the emblem of strength 
and courage. And so it is. Oh ! ad- 
mire majesty, glory, and power in 
this Oiiild. Wrapped in swaddling- 
clothes, He has but a manger for His 
throne and altar, and yet the heavens 
are moved, the Angels sing of Him 
as the glory of the Most High, as the 
Saviour of the world. If He clothes 
Himself with weakness, it is in order 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 327 

that by that very weakness He may 
save souls and defeat the enemy. 

Prayer. — Jesus, unite niy weak- 
ness to Thine, and that, together witli 
Thy Divine Strengtli, will be stronger 
than all the power of earth and hell. 

Practice. — Place your trust in God 
alone. 

Friday. 

" Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to 
men of good will. *— /S'^. LukeW. 14. 

Thought. — Glory to God! from 
this Child bursts forth the wis- 
dom, bounty, and power of the 
Most High. Wisdom, inasmuch 
as He could find no better way of 
winning our hearts than by taking 
upon Himself our liumanity, and 
becoming a babe lil^e each of us. 
Bounty, for w^hat greater proof could 
He give us of His love than by mak- 
ing Himself one of us ? Power, for as 
a feeble child He attracts to His dwell- 
ing kings and shepherds, and makes 



328 ^ THOUGHT FOK 

the powerful of tliis world tremble at 
His name. What, then, will He bo 
when He shows Himself in the splen- 
dor of His strength « 

p^cfyer.—Jems, grant me the good- 
will of the shepherds and the Magi, 
who, to follow the first heavenly in- 
spiraiion, left these their flocks, those 
their kingdoms. 

PractiGe.—Usten with promptness 
and docility to the call of grace. 

Satukpat. 

>'ABd they found Ma,y «na,J%%b- *'>^ J^« '"'*''* 
lying iu tbe manger.' —St. Luke ii. lb. 

Thought.— The manger is the sign 
by which we are to recognize the God 
Infant, the God King, the God Sa- 
viour. Being God, He would conquer 
all that the world holds most invinci- 
ble by making Himselt most feeble, 
knowing that His Strength and Power 
lies iu His very weakness. Being 
King, He rules the land without the 
magnificence of a court or the splen- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 329 

dor of an army. Being Saviour, He 
shows us that He is free from all 
those chains which fetter us like 
slaves — viz., riches, pleasures, honor. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I conjure Thee by 
the remembrance of the mariger to 
teach me to esteem all that this world 
despises, and to despise all that it 
esteems. 

Practice. — You are despised ! Ton 
suffer ! You are in w^ant of sometliing ! 
Rejoice, then, for in this you are like 
to the Infant Jesus. 



330 A THOUGHT FOB 



Suntrag attet ffiijristmas Bag. 

" Ard the father and mother were wonderino; at thope 
things which were sp^^keu conceriimg Him."— >Si. 
Luke ii. 33. 

Thought. — They knew a great 
deal more about Him than those who 
spoke about Him ; but they w^ere 
glad to hear the greatness of the di- 
vine Child spoken of. Let us, like 
Joseph and Mary, hide in secrecy the 
lights that we have received, but let 
us rejoice to hear others praise our 
Lord and celebrate His greatness. 

Prayer. — Jesus, if Thou dost not 
think me worthy of preaching Thy 
kingdom, but wouldst have me silent, 
I will at least praise those who have 
received the gift of making Thee 
known and loved. 

Practice, — Rejoice at seeing our 



EACH DAY OF 'JiHE YEAR. 331 

Lord better praised and served bj 
others than by yourself. 

Monday. 

"BeholcHhis Chilrl is set for th ' f-^11. and for the re- 
gurrectiou of inauy iu Israel."— aS'^. Luke ii. b4. 

Thought, — Jesus is King, and as 
such lays claim to His Throne. Of 
mankind, some flock round His stan- 
dard ; to tliem He restores a life lost 
by sin, and assures them their eternal 
happiness — Positus est hiG in resur- 
rectionein multorum ; others rise up 
against Him, but He is hound to 
reign^ and, if need be, must strike 
down all his en e r n ies — Positics est hie 
in Tidnani multorum. 

Prayer. — Jesus, be to me the re- 
surrection and the life; by faith and 
grace strike down all that is of '' self'^ 
in me. 

Practice, — Love Jesus only, and 
reject and combat all that \^ not to 
His honor. 



332 A THOUGHT FOR 



Tuesday. 

"And (He is set up) for a sisfn whicli shall be contra- 
dicted.''— /S;«. Luke ii. 34. 

Thought, — If yon try to do or sa}^ 
anything for the glor\^ of God and the 
salvation of souls, you will at once 
serve as a target for all sorts of con- 
tradictions. Passion and wrong, that 
you would condemn and repress by 
word and action, rise up to stifle your 
voice and to overthrow your good 
work, and then the good, frightened 
by the impudence of the wricked, will 
unite among themselves to put a stop 
to what they will call imjjrudence on 
your part. Do not be disconcerted. 
Jesus was persecuted by every enemy 
of God and man, and abandoned by 
all save His M':^ther, some few holy 
women, and one man, St. John, w^ho 
alone followed Him to the cross. 

Prayer, — Jesus, sustain me in the 
day of persecution. I may be strong 
enough to combat the attacks of Thy 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 333 

enemies ; but if abandoned by those 
calling themselves Thy friends, I shall 
fail unless Thou aidest me. 

Practice — In the days of trial look 
to Jesus and Mary, and to them only, 
for support and help. 

Wednesday. 

" And thy own soul a sword shall pierce. "—/S'^. Luke 
ii. 35. 

• Thought, — The soul of Mary was 
pierced with a sword of sorrow ; why 
then should I murmur at the suffering 
that I may have to undergo ? Maiy 
witnessed the abrupt ending of her 
Son's life in the midst of a career 
crowned with glory. All at once the 
cross changes His glory into ignominy 
and pain. Mary is powerless, she 
cannot help Ilim ; she can only suffer. 
Prayer. — Jesus, if I could only suf- 
fer as Mary did, at the sight of Thee 
humbled and in pain, but I can hard- 
ly bear the little bodily suffering that 



334 A THOUGHT FOR 

I am subject to. Wlien shall 1 forget 
myself so entirely as to think only of 
Thy interests, O Jesus! — interesis 
which should be mine, and which 
aloltie should have any importance in 
my eyes? 

Practice, — Offer up each day's suf- 
ferings in unison with the Heart of 
Mary, that heart so deeply pierced by 
the sword of sorrow. 

Thursday. 

*'And th'^re was one Anna, a p"ophetes=, . . . and 
she tpoke of Him."— /S^. Luke xxxvi. 38. 

Thought, — The gift of preaching 
the Word of God is only acquired by 
prayer and mortiiication and patience. 
Anna never departed from the temple, 
but prayed and fasted incessantly. 
It was only after eighty years that 
she saw the Lord and w^as allowed to 
speak of Him. Be patient ; the light 
will show forth, and the Word of the 
Lord will be given to you, when you 
think there is no longer any hope. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 335 

Prayer, — Jesus, I have J^eeii long 
waiting for Thee * I desire to do some- 
thiijg for Thy glory. Thou wilt not 
disappoint me m my wish? 

Practice. — Never despair, and ne- 
ver say to yourself, Oh ! it is too late. 

Friday. 

"And after they had performed all things according 
to the law of the Lord.'' — St Luke ii. 39, 

Thought, — Kever leave your soli- 
tude save to fulfil your duty, and 
wlien you have fulfilled it return 
again to your retreat ; but take care 
to do all that God wills, and to do it 
perfectly. Perfecerunt omnia. Do 
not follow your own tlioughts or ideas, 
but follow the law of God, the rule of 
your state of life, and the orders of 
your superiors : secundttm legem Do- 
mjini. 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant that my 
sole satisfaction here on earth may be 
the knowledge that I have accom- 



336 A THOUGHT FOE 

plislied Thy will, that I have observ- 
ed with regularity and good order the 
divers duties that my profession or 
situation may demand of me. 

Practice, — Be regular in every- 
thing you do. 

Saturday. 

** And the Child erew and waxel strong, full of wif=- 
dom ; and the grace of God was in Him."— aS^. 
Lukev.^O 

Thought — You must not expect to 
attain perfection all at once. Jesus, 
who was the type of perfection, full of 
wisdom and grace from the moment 
of His Incarnation, grew and waxed 
strong. Little by little he disclosed 
the perfections hidden within His 
soul. Always strive to do your best 
acjDidIng to the grace and strength 
that is given to you ; never turn back, 
alwa3^s advance, but do not expect to 
gain the heights at one single bound. 

Prayer. — Jesus, grow strong in 
me, strengthen Thyself in me, and I 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 337 

feluiU then increase in virtue and in 
wisdom as in yea^s, both before God 
and man. 

Practice. — Age quod agis ; what- 
ever you do, do well, and tor God 
alune. In this consists true and real 
pertection. 



I 



338 A THOUGHT FOR 



SttuTrafi after tijr atircttmciiston, 

" And aft'T ^he Magi were departed, behold an angel 
of The Lord appeared ia sleep to Joseph."— /S/. 
Matthew li. 13. 

Thought. — Joseph and Mary were 

pondering with feelings of pleasure 
over the homage rendered to the di- 
vine Child by the angels and the 
Wise Men of the East, when, behold ! 
quite unexpectedljj an angel appear- 
ed to Joseph in his sleep, warning 
hiin of the peril that menaced the 
Child. Thns after day comes night, 
thus consolation follows trial. Here 
on earth consolation, is only granted 
to make us more ready for the fighi. 

Prayer, — Jesus, dwell Thou in me 
and T in Thee, for then nothing can 
troablo '^r afflict me. 

Practice, — Have confidence in God 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 339 

fort. 



alone; look to Hiin for rest and com 



Monday. 

"Arise, and <-ake tHe Child and His motlier, and fly 
into Egypt.''— St. Matthew ii. 13. 

Thought. — The Saviour needs a sa- 
viour ! A God flies ! Is not the 
thought enough to stagger our reason ? 
Our Lord and Saviour could by one 
single word annihilate His enemies. 
But if He triumphs through flight, 
and gains the throne by ways wliich 
are generally the means of forfeiting 
it, if, in flne. His very weakness is 
stronger than all human power, will 
you not recognize your God and Sa- 
viour ? 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou waitest un- 
til my weakness is proved, that tlien 
Thou mavest use me for the manifes- 
tation of Thy glory. 

Practice. — Trust in God, no mat- 
ter what happens. 



340 a thought for 

Tuesday. 

"And be there until I shall tell yon.''— St. Matthew 
ii. 13. 

Thought, — In this case the vague- 
ness of the command is of itself enough 
to cause ahirm. Joseph must go into 
an unknown country, and reside there 
unknown to all. Let us take courage 
and always advance ; the future may 
be hidden to us, but God knows it, 
and that is sufficient. God is wise, 
and Ho has oixlained all things before- 
hand. God is good, and He has or- 
dered everything for our good. God 
is all-powertul, and all that He has 
ordained w^ill take place ; nothing can 
liappen without His permission. No 
matter what lijippeneth, the end will 
be to His glory and for our happiness. 

Prayer. — Jesus, in Thy compan3' 
I will look to the future without anxi- 
ety. With Thee nothing disastrous 
can ever come to pass. 

Practice, — Trust in God. 



each day of the yeah. 341 
Wednesday. 

^* For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the 
Child to destr. y Him." — St. Matthew ii. 13. 

Thought, — Herod is still seeking 
the Child Jesus ; the world still seeks 
the Child Jesus, in His mystical bodj^, 
tlie Church. Herod seeks the Church, 
not with the view of submitting to its 
authority and becoming one of its 
members, but to destroy it. This is 
whj^ he watches and makes researches. 
Herod will not succeed ; he may shed 
blood and make martyrs, but the 
Cliurch shall escape his fury and sur- 
vive-— he will pass away, leaving no- 
tliing to posterity but the history of 
his crimes. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou child and fu- 
gitive, art more powerful than Herod 
and all the heirs to his jealous anger ; 
I will attach mj^self to Thy service ; I 
w^ill despise Herod. 

Practice. — Fear nothing that the 
world may say or do. 



342 a thought for 

Thursday. 

"And Joseph arose, and took the Cbild and His mo- 
ther by liight, and retired into E^ypW—St. Mat- 
thew ii. 14. 

Thought. — The secret of wisdom 
and strength is a speedy and faithful 
obedience to the commands of our su- 
periors. You are wise by prompt and 
taithful obedience, inasmuch as you 
conform your intelligence to the di- 
vine intelligence of God ; you become 
wise of the wisdom of God Himself; 
you are strong by prompt and faithful 
obedience, for you conform your will 
to the divine will ; you acquire good- 
ness from the goodness of God Him- 
self, and power from His power. But 
it is night, and dark, you will say. 
Obey — and God will be to you a light. 
But I sliall have to go into Egypt! 
Obey, God wi'll be your help and 
strength ; He will assist you against 
the impious and worldly persons wiio 
surround j^ou. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou wilt be to 



EACH DAT OF THE. YEAR. 343 

rae the only True Wisdom, the only 
real strength. , 

Practice. — Obev at once, without 
enquiring into reasons. 

Friday. 

" And He was there [in Egypt] tintil the death of 
Herod/ —iS^. Matthew li. 14. 

Thoioght — Stay in Egypt — that \^y 
remain powerless — until the death of 
Herod. Herod will die; and with 
him will disappear the obstacle to the 
designs that you have conceived for 
the glory of God and the salvation of 
souls. But when is this to be^ There 
lies the trial. May I not die before 
the realization of my design ? What 
does it matter ; for after all, what are 
your desires ? Are they for God's 
glory or your own ? If for yours, it 
were better that you should die be- 
fore the realization of a project whose 
result would cause you pride, and 
which, far from gaining you the me- 
rits of heaven, would only tend to 



344 A THOUaHT FOB 

increase your sufferings in purgatory. 
If for the glory of God, God will 
grant success to your plans ; all the 
Herods in the world could not stand 

in your way. 

Pm^/^^'.— Jesus, if Thou makest me 
powerless, grant me at least the gift 
of patience. 

Practice.— Bq patient when obsta- 
cles present themselves. 

Saturday. 

^^That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spo^^^y 
the pr^^et, Bayimg, Out of Fgypt have 1 called my 
fi^onr—S'. Matthew ii. 15. 

Thoicght.—Tho^Q events which are 
often the most contrary to our views 
and desires are nevertheless planned 
by divine Providence in a general 
way, and also in a particular way as 
regards yourself. You must not allow 
yourself to be discouraged by anything 
ihat may happen. The will of God 
must always be done. The people of 
God went out of the land of Egypt, 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR.- 345 

where the family of Jacob, through 
force of circumstance, was obliged to 
enter. The Son of God likewise will 
go out of the land of Egypt, w^here 
He has been obliged to fly for safety. 
Exile is hard to bear, but nothing can 
injure the worth of Providence. Trial 
is a necessary preparation for God's 
work. 

Prayer, — Jesus, shorten the length 
of my trial, or increase in me the gift 
of patience. 

Practice. — See and recognize the 
hand of Providence in all things. 



346 A THOIJGHT FOK 



When Je-U8, therefore, was born ia T ethleaem of 
Juda, behold there came wise men from the east 
to Jerusalem."— jS'^. Matthew ii. 1. 

Thought. — Admire the almiglity 
power of this little Child, who from 
His cradle makes known His coming 
to the shepherds and Magi — to the 
shepherds by means of His Angel, to 
the Magi by a star in the east. Ad- 
mire the docility of these kings. Jesus 
is born. Behold them at His feet ! 
Let us be little, let us hide ourselves, 
and the divine strength will be granted 
to us. Be docile and quick in follow- 
ing divine inspirations, and you will 
then become wise of the wisdom of 
God, powerful of His almighty power. 

Prayer, — Jesus, draw me to Thy 
crib. Grant that I may recognize Thy 
voice in the stars as well as in the 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 347 

Angels — in the natural order as well 
as in the supernatural order of things. 
Practice, — Be ever ready to follow 
good inspirations. 

Monday. 

" Where is He that is born King of the Jews ? "— 
St. Matthew ii.2. 

Thought, — What boldness and im- 
prudence ! How is it that the Magi, 
alike wise men and kings, have for- 
gotten the suspicious mind of a prince ? 
How comes it that they have not fore- 
seen the danger of compromising 
either their reputation for wisdom 
in undertaking such a long journey 
without learning beforehand some- 
thing certain as to the birth of a King 
whom they came to adore, or of en- 
dangering their life and their king- 
doms in coming to render homage to 
a Prince who is not the son of the 
reigning king ? What a lesson is it 
not for us! What an example for 
us, who dare not declare ourselves in 



348 A THOUGHT FOR 

favor of the royalty of Jesus Christ, 
fearing lest we should compromise 
ourselves before the mighty of this 
world, or in the opinion of our triends. 

Prayer, — Jesus, when shall I ever 
learn tor certain that true prudence 
consists in seeking after Thee alone, 
and in despising the wisdom and power 
of this world ? 

Practice, — Go straight to Jesus. 

Tuesday. 

" For we have seen His star in the east, and have 
come to adore Him."— 6^. MaUhew ii. 2. 

Thought. — We have cilso seen, and 
are come. Let our wills respond to 
our intelligence, our resolution to our 
thoughts. Such is the characteristic 
of the divine working. God said, 
Fiat — " Let there be light, and tliere 
was light." Hesitation rnins every- 
thing. Of course you should never 
undertake anything without feeling 
sure that j'^ou are doing the will of 
God ; but once feeling sure, act. The 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 349 

wise men saw the star, and came at 
once. It is onlj a light, but never 
mind, follow it. This light will lead 
you straight to Him who is the light 
and sun ot justice and truth. Etveni- 
mus adorare eum. 

Prayer. —Jesus, give me a quick 
and ready resolution, so that I may 
without any hesitation follow the first 
inspirations of grace. 

Practice.— Be prompt and decisive 
in following divine inspirations. 

Wed^stesday. 

''And King Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all 
Jerusalem with him.' 'St. Matthew ii. 3. 

Thought.— K Child was the cause 
of dismay to a whole nation ; and 
an old man will make the powers of 
this world tremble. Leo makes Attila 
withdraw ; Gregory Yll. makes Hen- 
ry IV. of Germany grow pale ; Pius 
IX., alone and unsupported, stays and 
breaks the most bitter revolutions 
which cast down kings and cause re- 



S50 A THOUaHT FOE 

volt among people. And you, do you 
fear the world ? Public opinion, the 
people, the majority — all ! all ! trem- 
ble with Herod. Et omnis Jerosolyma 
GWin illo. 

Prayer. — Jesus, if Thy weakness is 
of such strength, what will be Thy real 
power ! If in the early days of Thy 
human life Thou art so to be feared, 
what wilt thou be at the solemn day 
of judgment? 

Practice. — Despise the world and 
all human respect. 

Thursday. 

" And seeing the star, they rf joiced with exceeding 
great joy."— /Si^. Matthew ii. 10. 

Thought. — If you feel no inspira- 
tion, follow your reason, or consult 
your superiors or your director ; be 
guided by faith, and submit with obe- 
dience. Do not be discouraged ; do 
not turn back or stand still. Do not 
stop on the way, save to enquire and 
obtain necessary information. The 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 351 

day will supersede the night, and the 
star will shine again, to our exceeding 
great joy. 

Prayer. — Jesus, yesterday all 
things seemed easy to me— Thy star 
shone forth ; but to-day all is chang- 
ed, everything seems difficult, the ob- 
stacles are insurmountable, for the star 
has disappeared. Give me grace to 
use the little light that may be left in 
me to my greater advantage. 

Practice. — When desolation comes 
upon you, bear in mind that if you are 
but faithful, consolation will soon fol- 
low\ 

Friday. 

"And faring down they adored Him."— >S'i^. Matthevo 
ii. 11. 

Thought. — The wisdom of the world 
bends low before a child ; power itself 
is humbled before impotence ; the 
Wise Men adored the wisdom of God 
Himself in that little Child ; the 
powerful ones of the earth adored His 



352 A THOUGHT FOR 

power. Let us too believe — by faith 
we shall know what our reason cannot 
teach us ; we shall see divine wisdom 
in all things, in those events which 
according to our ideas are most con- 
trary to human prudence; and we 
shall also recognize tlie powerful hand 
of God even in the reverses with 
which He visits those who give up 
evervthins: for love of Him. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me grace to 
understand the wisdom of Thy silence 
and the strength of Thy feebleness. 

Practice, — Place your trust in God, 
and in God alone. 

Saturday. 

** They went back another way into their country."— 
St. Matthew ii. 12. 

ThougJtt, — Having once found Je- 
sus, you must change your route and 
your conduct. After you have been 
to communion the world is waiting to 
destroy you and to destroy Jesus who 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 353 

is in you. Tou have to battle with 
Herod and the world, for you must 
avoid the world and have no commu- 
nication with it. 

Prayer. — Jesus, change my 
thoughts and sentiments. Inspire 
me with esteem and love for poverty 
and humility ; teach me to hate and 
contemn the world, its riches, and its 
favors. 

Practice. — Contemn all that the 
world esteems dear, and esteem all 
that the world contemns. 



354 A THOUGHT FOR 



cSuntrafi toitfiin ti)t ©ctaije of tijr 
iSpfpJjanfi* 

** And when He was twelve years old, they were going 
up into J ruealem, according to the custom of the 
least,''— /Si^. Luke ii.42. 

Thought. — Besides the morDing 
and evening prayers that we say each 
day there are other prayers which the 
law of God commands to be offered 
up for the glory of God and as thanks- 
giving for benefits received every day. 
It is not only advisable but obligatory 
for you to show yourself in the temple 
of God. If you should refuse to com- 
ply with such a command you would 
be guilty either of human respect or 
of contempt of God. 

Prayer. — Jesus, may I never be- 
come hypocritical, and pretend to be 
religious when such is not the case ; 
grant likewise that I may never be 
guilty of human respect, seeking to 



EACH DAY OF THE TEAR. 356 

remain a Christian without appearing 
as such. 

Practice. — Be as you ought to be, 
and show yourself as you are. 

Monday. 

"The child Jesns remained in Jerasalem."— /S^^. Luke 
ii. 43. 

Thought. — A child should obey his 
parents. Jesus never disobeyed His 
parents ; but in those things that 
concerned God, such as prayer, zeal, 
vocation, penance, inspirations of a 
supernatural order, these should be 
allowed to triumph over the senti- 
ments of nature. The divine Child 
does not ask permission to remain in 
Jerusalem, though He would certainly 
have obtained it ; He wishes to give 
us an example of the holy liberty that 
a Christian may take in all that con- 
cerns the honor of his God. 

Prayer. — Jesus, teach me properly 
to reconcile the use of true liberty with 
the respect due to lawful authority. 



356 A THOUGHT FOR 

Practice — Follow divine inspira- : 

tion without failing in the obedience ] 

due to God's representatives here on ^ 

earth. \ 

Tuesday. 

** They came . . . aDd Pou?tit Him among their kins- 
folks and acquaintances,"— /S(^. Luke ii. 44. 

Thought. — Begin by employing na- 
tural means ; follow the light of rea- 
son in the first place. Such is the 
order of things. God Himself expects 
that before He enlightens and helps 
you by His special assistance, you 
should, on your side, do j^our utmost. 
Generally, however, you will not 
succeed without having recourse to 
supernatural means, the principal of 
which is prayer; 

Prayer. — Jesus, I will seek Thee 
round about me in those persons 
with whom Thou wouldst wish to 
dwell, for I know Thou art gener- 
ally to be found with or near them. 
But if I do not find Thee there, where 
shall I look for Thee ? 



EACH DAY OF THE TEAK. 357 

Practice. — Do all in your power to 
find Jesus, remembering that you may 
always succeed by prayer. 

Wednesday. 

'' And they found Him in the temp^e/'—zS'^. Luke ii. 46. 

Thought, — You will find Jesus in 
the temple, in the temple of your 
heart, if you are in a state of grace, 
or in the church, where the faithful 
flock to honor Him. Return to this 
double temple by means of prayer, 
and there you will meet Jesus when 
you have in vain looked for Him else- 
where. 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant that through 
prayer my soul may become a living 
temple where Thou canst ever dwell. 

Practice. — Ever think of Jesus 
present in you by his grace. 

Thursday. 

** Son, why hast Thou done this ? ''-^St, Luke ii. 48. 

Thought. — What sweetness and 
tenderness is there not in this re- 



358 A THOUGHT FOR 

proacli ! Is it thus that I complain 
wlien separated from Jesus? Alas! 
no; for often I do not notice the sepa- 
ration, or I am indifferent to it, or I 
grow irritated and murmur, or am 
discouraged at the uselessness of my 
efforts to regain the sensible devotion 
that I have lost. Thus going from one 
extreme to another, I grieve Jesus by 
my indifference or offend Him by my 
impatience. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou shouldst 
complain of my conduct ; it is not 
Thou who leavest me, but I who 
separate mj^self from Thee by luke- 
warm n ess or by sin. 

Practice,— \vi times of desolation 
be resigned, but not indifferent. 

Friday. 

"Did you not know tbat T rnnsthe ab^ut my Father's 
business/'— >S;. LukeW, 49. 

Thought, — God before and above 
all things! such is the command, 
such is the law, and our very reason 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 359 

acknowledges it. Every interest 
should be sacrificed, ev^erj obligation 
cancelled, for tiie f ntherance of this 
supreme duty. You seek Jesus, you 
look for consolation and joy of the 
soul ; serve God, pray to Ilim, and 
you will thus come face to face with 
Jesus ; you will find the consolation 
of spiritual joy. 

l^rayer. — Jesus, grant that I may 
only interest myself in what tends 
to the service and honor of Thy Fa- 
ther. 

Practice. — Have God in sight, and 
Him only. 

Saturday. 

•'And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age."— <8Sf. 
Luke IL 52. 

ThoughL — It has been said that to 
conquer is to advance. If, then, I 
loiter for one moment on the road to 
perfection, the world and the flesh 
get the better of me, and I turn 
back. God, besides, gives His grace 



360 A THOUGHT FOR 

in proportion to the efforts that I 
make. If I bury the talent that God 
confides to my care. He will take it 
away altogether; if I increase its 
value; God will double it. Therefore 
I shall advance in grace as I advance 
in wisdom, and I shall advance in 
wisdom in proportion as I advance in 
grace. These two things correspond, 
and form a circle. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I shall never be 
able to follow Thee unless Thou 
drawest me towards Thee ; and unless 
I follow Thee Thou wilt cease to 
draw me towards Thee. I will aban- 
don myself to Thee without reserve. 

Practioe. — Make one step forward 
each day. 



EACH DAT OF THE TEAK. 361 

Secontr Suntray after tije 22pt« 
pf)ans. 

" At^d there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee^ and 
the Mother of Jesus was there.''— >S^^. JohnHA, 

Thought — Mary is always where 
charity calls Tier. Let us fly all 
worldly feasts, but let us observe 
necessary decorum. Contemplate 
Mary in this family circle ; she is not 
severe or austere, but grave and 
dignified, full of modesty and charity. 

Prayer. — Jesus, teach me how to 
find the happy medium which accom- 
modates the duties of nature to those 
of religion, the duty of man to the 
duty and respect asked of us by God. 

Practice. — You must always study 
good manners. 

Monday. 

** And Jesus also was invited, and His disciples, to the 
marriage."— >i^^. John ii. 2. 

Thought. — Jesus deigns to assist 
at a joyous gatliering, that He may 
sanctify it with His presence. Take 



362 A THOUGHT FOB 

notice of His bearing, how simple 
and dignified, and yet how sweet and 
grave ! Listen to his discourse. Je- 
sus comes witli His disciples; and 
what are they ? — simply fishermen. 
Behold Him, the Son* of kings, ac- 
customed to the company of Mary 
and Joseph, whose very manner and 
speech were dignified and gentle in 
the extreme — behold, He does not 
blush to appear in company with 
these disciples whose manners He has 
not yet had time to reform. "What a 
lesson of humility ! 

Prayer, — Jesus, admit me into 
Thy company, in spite of the vices 
and defects which make me so intol- 
erable to Thy friends. 

Practice, — Adapt yourself to all 
classes of men. 



Tuesday. 

Je8ii8 pait^ t( 

Thought, — Mary is so charitable 



"The Mother of Jeens pait^ to him, They have no 
wine."— >S'^. John ii. 3. 



EACH BAY OF THE YEAR. 363 

that she looks to everything that con- 
cerns her neighbor, even to temporal 
concerns. And if this tender Mother 
is so watchful and attentive in small 
matters, how vigilant and anxious 
will she not be when it is a question 
of the interests of a soul, of an eter- 
nity ! 

Prayer, — Jesus, Mary understands 
Thy heart sO well. She does not ask 
Thee for anything, but calls Thy at- 
tention to what is taking place, know- 
ing full well that discovering a want 
is enough to excite Thy bounty. 

Practice. — Have confidence in 
Mary. 

Wednesday. 

" Woman, what i^ it to me and to thee ?"— 
8U John ii. 4. 

Thought.— Wlmi is it ? O my Di- 
vine Jesus ! it is that she is Thy 
mother, and Thou her son ; a word 
from her, even the simple statement 
of the case, uncoupled with any wish 



364 A THOUGHT FOR 

expressed b}^ her, suffices to hasten on 
the time of Thy first miracle. Why, 
then, a reply seemingly so harsh ? It 
is a mystery that I leave to others to 
unfathom. Perhaps Jesus wished to 
make us understand that He is ready 
to anticipate the smallest wish of His 
Mother, even in those things which 
are beyond the sphere of her maternal 
rights. 

Prayer, — Jesus, often when Thou 
art severe to Thine own people, Thou 
intendest to grant them a great favor. 

Practice. — Ever confide in Jesus. 

Thursday. 

*' WTiatsoever he shall say to you, do yeJ^'—St. 
John 11. 5. 

Thought. — Mary knew perfectly 
well that, in spite of the apparent 
severity of His reply, her prayer 
would be answered. Let us, after 
praying, think that God has heard 
our prayer, and let us act accordingly. 
This is an innocent expedient for 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 365 

doing a sweet violence to the Heart 
of Jesus. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I wish to do all 
that Thou hast said. Thou hast said, 
^' Ask, and jou will receive." This 
is enougli for me ; I shall consider as 
granted all things that I ask of Thee. 

Practice, — Pray with constancy and 
confidence. 

Friday. 

*'Fill the waterpots with wa^er."— /S'if. John ii. 6. 

Thought. — And to tell the truth, 
Jesus is almost compromised by His 
Mother's word. As a dutiful son, He 
can refuse her nothing, and to obey 
her He commands mankind and the 
elements. Let us pi'ay, and even if 
what we ask were impossible, nothing 
could resist a prayer, which is all- 
powerful over the Almighty Himself. 

Prayer. — Jesus, were I as void of 
Thy grace as were the jars and water 
before Thou spakest, the grace and 
power to pray to Thee would still be 



366 A THOUGHT FOR 

left to me, and that would be suffi- 
cient to obtain both grace and 
strength. 

Practice. — Never cease to pray 
either in bodily or spiritual affliction. 

Saturday. 

*' And He manifested His glory.''— aS^^, John ii. 11. 

Thought, — Two things are neces- 
sary for true glory, power and boun- 
ty ; the 'former without the latter 
causes terror, the second without the 
first inspires contempt. Unite boun- 
ty and power, and you will win ad- 
miration ; add power to bounty, and 
you will win love. All the miracles 
that Jesus wrought were favors, and 
all manifested His glory. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I admire Thee be- 
cause Thou art great, but I love Thee 
because Thou art good. 

Practice. — Be neither irresolute nor 
headstrong, but mild and strong- 
minded — suaviter fortiter. 



EACa DAY OF THE YEA^. 367 



" And when He was come down from the mountain." 

— JSt. Matthew viii. 1. 

Thought, — The mountain is hea- 
ven, or the bosom of the Eternal Fa- 
ther. The Word, in becoming flesh, 
came down from heaven, out of the 
paternal breast, to take upon Himself 
our nothingness, to raise us up and 
elevate us even to His Father Jesus, 
or the Word made flesh, is God, who 
is ever near to us. Let us approach 
to Him, for He permits us ; let us 
show Him our misery. He will have 
compassion on us. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou hast made 
the first advance towards me ; how 
can I refuse to reply to such kind at- 



368 A THOUGHT YOU 

tention, to such touching condescen- 
sion ? 
Practice. — Fidelity to grace. 



Monday. 

"Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean."— 
St. Matthew viii. 2. 

Thought. — Thou dost wish it, and 
I alone can prevent it. I wish to be 
made clean, I desire it much ; but am 
I like the leper, resolved to do all in 
mj power to obtain it ? I should like 
to regain liealth, but without having 
to use the remedy. I am anxious 
that God should cure me of this evil 
habit, and yet I am unwilling to make 
an effort to correct invself. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me that 
strength of will and purpose that 
Thou expectest of me, without which 
Thy gracGj however efficacious of it- 
self, can serve me nothing ; give me 
this, O God ! as Thou only canst 
give. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 369 

» 

Practice, — Pray earnestly ; the 
grace of prayer is always near a4 
hand. 

Tuesday. 

'' See thou tell no man."— >S'^. Matthew viii. 4. 

Thought, — We should be silent 
about our good works and our deeds 
of charity, for silence is the safeguard 
of merit and success. In boasting of 
the good you have done, you will 
there and then have received your re- 
ward, and you will have lost it also, 
for the world refuses to glorify those 
who seek for glory or look for it as a 
right. And more than this, if you 
publish your grand works, the ene- 
mies of virtue will league against you 
in order to hinder your work, and to 
put a stop to your success. 

Prayer, — Jesus, may Thy modest- 
ty and prudence serve me as a rule 
and model through life. 

Practice, — Do good, but do it si- 
lently. 



370 a thought for 

Wednesday. 

"Lord, my servant lifth flt home sick of the palsy. "— 
St. Matthew viii. 6. 

Thought. — When you have lost all 
strength, and feel yourself weak and 
powerless, speak to Jesus. You have 
only to expose your wants ;• He can 
and will help you. And if He does 
not help you, it will either be because 
your prayers have not been fervent 
enough, or because He intends to con- 
fer some still greater benefit upon 
you. 

Prayer, — Jesus, raise me up, 
waken me. "Were it not for Thee 
my faculties would be numbed, my 
strength would be paralyzed. 

Practice. — Have recourse to Jesus 
in your weakness. 

Thursday. 

" I will come and heal him."— /S^. Matthew viii. 7. 

Thought. — How kindly, and with 
what readiness, does not Jesus com- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 371 

ply with the request of the centurion. 
Be you likewise ready to assist and 
help in a spirit of charity when called 
upon. Do not be numbered among 
those who, when called upon to oblige 
a friend, lind it quite impossible to 
comply. 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thou art as ready 
now to assist and help us as when 
Thou didst walk the earth ; come, 
then, and take pity on mj^ weakness. 

Practice, — Be always willing to ob- 
lige others, and God will be willing 
to help you. 

Fkiday. 

" Lord, I am not worthy."— S";^. Maithew viii. 8. 

Thought. — Humble yourself, ac- 
knowledge your un worthiness before 
God and man. Humility never de- 
ceives one ; or if it does by exaggera- 
tion of the contempt of self, it is not 
on that account exposed to any mis- 
take. One risks very little in esti- 



372 A THOUGHT FOR 

mating one's worth at a lower rate 
than necessary. One runs the risk of 
a great danger in overestimating one's 
worth. God is disarmed by humility ; 
but he remains inflexible towards the 
proud. Humility disarms mankind, 
who are unable to support the supe- 
riority of true merit, and revolt against 
a false superiority which pride awards 
to itself. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I am not worthy 
that Thou shouldest approach me in 
the Holy Eucharist ; nevertheless, say 
but the w^ord to render me less un- 
worthy of Thy presence. 

Practice, — Never boast of your 
own acquirements, but think little of 
yourself. 

Saturday. 

*' Go, and as thou hast believed, so be it done to 

thee,"— 6'^. Matthew viii. 13. 

ThougJd. — Faith is the scale by 
which the generosity and power of 
God in our regard is measured out. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 373 

Not that God does not often — nay, 
generally — give more than our faith 
would entitle us to, but in His glory 
and bounty He is never content to 
give us less than we expect from His 
power and His liberality. 

Prayer, — Jesus, I believe, but in- 
crease mv faith. It is so frao^ile the 
least thing makes it tremble. 

Practice, — Reanimate your faith 
by the remembrance of what Jesus 
Christ has promised you. 



374 A THOUGHT FOR 



jFottttJ) Sunlras after tfit ISpt= 

" And behold a jsrreat tempest arose."— <S(^. 
Matthew viii. 24, 

Thought, — The sea represents the 
world, and the Church is like unto 
the boat. The world at all* times 
rises up against the Church, and in- 
deed against each particular faithful 
soul. You have only to wisli to do 
good and the world, with its sea of 
opinions and miserable passions, will 
turn against you. 

Prayer, — Jesus, if Thou art in tlie 
vessel of my heart, I shall care little 
about the troubles that surround me. 

Practice, — Despise the world and 
all its threats. 

Monday. 

" But He was asleep."— >^^. Matthew viil. 24. 

Thought, — What matter whether 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 375 

Jesus sleeps or not, provided He is 
there ; besides, if He sleeps, is it not 
somewhat through our neglect and 
forgetfulness ? He sleeps on in the 
bottom of our boat, and leaves us 
alone to ourselves, that we may learn 
how impotent we are without Him. 

Prayer, — Jesus, if I were always 
thinking of Thee, I should find that 
Thou art always thinking of me. If 
I were to speak to Thee continuously 
by means of prayer, 1 should hear 
Thy word and know that Thou art 
with me. 

# Practice. — Pray always, and never 
cease to invoke Jesus. 

Tuesday. 

*' Lord, save us, we perish.'*— /§"<{. Matthew viii. 25. 

Thought. — It is only at the last mo- 
ment, when our pride is overcome by 
fear, and when we are obliged to re- 
cognize our helplessness, that we re- 
sign ourselves to prayer. God waits 



376 A THOUGHT FOR 

but for this acknowledgment of our 
weakness ; He has only to hear our 
cry of distress to show us at once His 
power and goodness. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I can only join 
with Thy apostles and say, Lord, 
Thou art the master, the controller of 
the tempests, as well as controller of 
our lives ; however hard we may 
strive, we shall surely perish without 
Thy help, O Lord ! Therefore, O 
Lord ! be merciful and help us. 

Practice. — Have confidence in God, 
and distrust yourself. 

Wednesday. 

"Why are you fearful, o ye of little faith ?''—iS^. 
Matthew viii. 26. 

Thought. — Be not fearful, but pray. 
By fear we do an injustice to God. Do 
you think He lacks either the good- 
will or the power to save you ? But 
how can I help fearing when death is 
surrounding me on all sides ? you will 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 377 

say. Let those who give themselves 
up to their passions, who gratify their 
sensual appetites and feed their imagi- 
nation, let them tremble; but you, 
man of faith and reason, man of good- 
will and prayer, remain calm and re- 
solute within the citadel of your soul. 

Prayer. — Jesus, in the midst of all 
troubles and tumults I will look up 
to Thee, confiding trustfully in Thy 
word and in Thy power. 

Practice, — Place your whole undi- 
vided trust iu the divine Goodness and 
Power. 

Thursday. 

'* He commanded the winds and the sea."— /S^. Mat- 
thew viii. 26. 

Thought. — The winds represent 
worldly opinion and human passion, 
the sea represents the world. You 
must not attempt to govern opinion 
or to rule over the world and its pas- 
sions ; they are too unstable. But if 



378 A THOUGHT FOR 

you wish for peace here below, and 
are desirous of remaining quiet in the 
midst of the tempest itself, you will 
have to be resolute and firm. It is of 
no use reasoning with those who are 
incapable of understanding reason; 
you must command. 

Prayer. — Jesus, speak authorita- 
tively to my heart. One word from 
Thee will produce a calm over my 
imagination, my passions, and my 
feelings. 

Practice. — In times of interior or 
exterior danger remain calm and reso- 
lute. 

Friday. 

*' But the men wondered."— /S'^. Matthew viii. 27. 

Thought. — Mankind, as a whole, 
does not understand the power of our 
Lord. Its strength of idea limits it- 
self to materialism, and it cannot un- 
derstand how the Church — poor and 
unendowed, without any other safe- 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 379 

guard than faith and belief — can domi- 
nate and ride triumphantly throngh 
the tempests and the storms of nine- 
teen centuries. 

Prayer. — I am astonished at the 
littleness of my faith in time of 
storm, for history shows me how Thou 
hast ever been triumphant through all 
gales and tempests. 

Practice. — Place boundless confi- 
dence in the word of Jesus Christ. 

Saturday. 

What manner of man is this ? "— iSif. Matthew viii. 
27. 

Thought, — Who is this man that is 
mightier than the winds and the sea ? 
and who is He that despiseth worldly 
opinions more changeable than the 
wind, passions more violent and more 
inconstant than the sea ? He is no 
man, but God-man^ or a man of God. 

Prayer. — Jesus, I have decided be- 
tween public opinion and Thy divine 



380 A THOUGHT FOR 

word, between passion and Thy will. 
I despise all that the world loves and 
I detest all that it prefers. 

Practice — I renounce the world, 
and will belong to Jesus Christ. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAK. 381 



iFiftl) Sttntrafi after Epijjijans- 

*-The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that 
sowed ROod seed in his field."— /S'^. Matthew xiil 
24. 

Thought. — The field is the world, 
the Master of the field is God, the 
good seed is the divine Word. God 
sows nothing but good seed. His 
word is truth and justice. How 
comes it, then, that there are men so 
foolhardy and so impious as to patron- 
ize evil and falsehood, expecting as a 
right for themselves or for others the 
libertj'' of proclaiming untruth and 
blasphemy ? 

Prayer. — Jesus, Thy word alone 
should be echoed in the world and in 
my heart. Thou alone hast the right 
of guiding the intelligence and the 
will. 

Practice. — Listen to God only, who 
is all truth and goodness. 



382 a thought fok 

Monday. 

"Bat while men were asleep his enemy came."— /S'^, 
Matthew xiii. 25. 

Thought. — Whilst those who have 
won the reputation of being good take 
their rest in ease and comfort, the 
scoffer and the sophist sow the seeds 
of heresy, and the libertine spreads his 
scandals. What would come to pass 
if principles of heresy and vice were 
allowed to spread without condemna- 
tion? 

Prayer. — Jesus, place over us su- 
periors who will guard us against false 
doctrines, and who know how to re- 
fute and condemn them. 

Practice. — Be ever upon the watch, 
lest you be surprised by the spirit of 
falsehood. 

Tuesday. 

" The enemy oversowed CDckle among the wheat."— 
St. Matthew xiii. 25. 

Thought. — The enemy is the type 
of all that is false and evil. How is it 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAJi. 383 

that there are persons who are simple 
enough to demand as a right the tole- 
ration of men whose only aim is to 
corrupt the heart and soul of others ? 

Prayer. — Jesus, inspire me with a 
holy hatred of these sowers of scandal, 
whose speech is false and whose work 
is evil. 

Practice, — Have nothing to do 
with the sower of cockle. 

Wednesday. 

" Sir, didst thou not sow good seed ? "—/S'^, Matthew 
xiii. 27. 

Thought. — Jesus never sows any- 
thing but the seed of truth. Truth 
alone has the right to rule the intelli- 
gence of man. Falsehood has no right 
to show itself. One must be very 
false in judgment or corrupted in 
heart not to share the indignation of 
the farmer's servants at the sight of 
the cockle sown over the field, or to 
notice without astonishment evil and 



384 A THOUGHT FOR 

untruth mixed up and confused with 
what is good and honest. 

Prayer. — Jesus, inspire me with a 
hatred and contempt of vice and false- 
hood ; give me instead a sincere 
esteem for truth and virtue. 

Practice. — Be ever on the side of 
truth and justice. 

Thursday. 

" The enemy hath done this."— /Si^. Matthew xiii. 28, 

Thought. — The enemy watches 
whilst we slumber, the wicked are 
generally more active than the good ; 
so also the wide range that is allowed 
to vice and error will always be fatal 
to truth and virtue. The sophist and 
the corrupter never let an occasion slip 
by of doing ill, while those who teach 
the Word of God, and who work for 
God, make an effort at first and then 
fall asleep again, leaving the rest of 
the undertaking in the hands of Pro- 
vidence — at least this is often the case. 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 385 

Prayer, — Jesus, may I always be 
on my guard against the enemy of 
faith and salvation. 

Practice, — Watch without ceasing 
over a good work once begun. 

Friday. 

" Suffer Doth to grow until the harvest."— ^S'^. Matthew 
xiii. 30. 

Thought. — It was not out of re- 
spect for liberty (as certain misguided 
persons would have it) that Jesus 
Christ bid the seed and the cockle 
grow undisturbed until the time of 
harvest, but for this sole reason, that 
He feared lest in rooting out the bad 
seed some part of the good seed might 
be also rooted out. You must there- 
fore tolerate vice and error when you 
are unable to extirpate them without 
compromising virtue and truth. 

Prayer, — Jesus, give me prudence 
together with zeal. Zeal without pru- 
dence would mar any good that we 
might do, while prudence without zeal 



386 A THOUGHT FOR 

would cause the overthrow of good 
by evil. 

Practice. — Be zealous and prudent. 

Saturday. 

** Gather up first the cockle, ... to burn it."— >S'/. 
MatthevusMi, 30 

Thought. — Such is divine tolera- 
tion, ever conformable to reason. Vice 
and error should only be tolerated 
when the interests of truth and virtue 
are at stake, and then they should 
only be tolerated for the purpose of 
destroying them altogether. Error 
and vice should be hated and de- 
stroved. 

Prayer. — Jesus, inspire me with 
that same hatred of wrong and sin 
that animated Thee from the first 
moment of Thy incarnation. Thy 
only object in taking upon Thyself 
our human form was to root out vice 
and falsehood. 

Practice. — Detest and fight against 
all that is false or evil. 



EACH DAT OF THE TEAB. 387 



Strtij .Sunttag after tfit 1SjjC= 
pjjanfi. 

** The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard 
seed."— /S^. Matthew xiii. 31. 

Thought. — From this little grain 
the whole plant shoots forth. Like- 
wise the principle of a life of perfec- 
tion here on earth, and of one of eter- 
nal glory and happiness hereafter, 
may take root and spring from one 
single inspiration of grace. Do not 
waste one moment of the time allotted 
to you, nor say or do anything that 
may be useless to you hereafter. 
Each moment of your life that is ill- 
spent imperils your eternal happiness. 

Prayer, — Jesus, grant that I may 
never forget any of Thy sayings. 
Each one of them is a grain of mus- 
tard seed, which, once taking root in 
the heart, can and will grow into an 
immense tree. 

Practice, — Neglect nothing. 



388 a thought for 

Monday. 

"But when it is grown np, it is greater than all 
herbs."— /S^. Matthew xiii. 32. 

Thought — The least advance made 
by the soul in the path of grace raises 
it far above any worldly greatness. 
A cup of water given to a poor man 
through love of God has more merit 
in^His eye than the conquest of Asia 
by Alexander the Great. 

Prayer. — Jesus, give me to under- 
stand the true worth and value of 
Thy grace. 

Practice, — Judge of persons and 
things, not according to the sugges- 
tions of your imagination, but accord- 
ing to faith. 

Tuesday. 

*' The gi-ain of mustard seed beco-naeth a tree, bo that 
the bi dft of the air come nnd dwell in the branches 
thereof."— /S^. Matthew xiii. 32. 

Thought, — Charity is developed by 
grace, and all who desire it can find 
shelter therein. This little grain of 
mustard seed represents the Church 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 389 

and the faithful soul. The Church, 
at first so small and so imperceptible, 
is new spreading its branches over the 
whole world, so that all nations can 
find shelter and protection within it. 
This is characteristic of the works of 
God. He begins modestly, and with 
little, He continues almost imper- 
ceptibly, and finally He extends 
His power everywhere. Such is the 
progress and character of grace and 
sanctity in the faithful soul. 

Prayer. — Jesus, extend in me the 
knowledge of Thy divine word, and 
give me to know Thy grace. Grant 
that my soul may reach the heights of 
perfection that Thou hast marked out 
for her. 

Practice, — Be ever faithful and 
constant to grace. 



Wednesday. 

' heaven is like to 1 
thew xiii. 33. 

Thought. — God needs little to do 



** The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven."— /Sii. Mat- 
thew xiii. 33. 



390 A THOUGHT FOR 

inucli. What is smaller than an 
atom? and yet out of an atom He 
made the sun. What is there in a 
bit of earth ? and yet from it He made 
that living essence of all that is won- 
derful in the world — viz., man. With 
a single grace on His part, and a little 
good- will on our own, we shall be 
able to attain to the highest step on 
the ladder of sanctity, through the 
extension of grace and our own cor- 
responding actions. 

Prayer, — Jesus, never permit me 
to lose one of Thy sayings, or one 
single grace. 

Practice, — Make use of the least of 
God's gifts. 

Thursday. 

"WMch (leaven) a woman took and hid in three mea- 
sures of meal."— /Si^. Maithew xiii. 33. 

Tliought. — Obscurity is one of the 
conditions necessary for progress, just 
as secrecy is a necessary condition for 
the success of an enterprise. Hide, 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 391 

then, from man, disappear from his 
sight, rest content with the good 
testimony of your conscience and the 
glory that you are giving to God 
alone. 

Prayer, — Jesus, Thou strivest to 
remain hidden both in Thy Church 
and in particular souls, and the good 
Thou dost is none the less real and 
efficacious. 

Practice. — Say less and do more. 

Friday. 

" And without parables He did not speak to them '' — 
St. Matthew xiii. 34. 

Thought. — Let us place ourselves 
on a level with those over whom God 
wishes us to exercise our influence. 
We should not hide from them the 
truth, nor should we seek to lessen its 
importance ; our aim rather should be 
to put truth before their eyes in such 
a way that faithful and high-minded 
souls may clearly understand it, while 
feeble souls may gradually acquire a 



392 A THOUGHT FOB 

knowledge of its beauty, without 
being dazzled by its splendor. 

Prayer. — Jesus, when shall I un- 
derstand Thee perfectly, and make 
others understand Thee too ? When 
I learn to love Thee above everything 
else, and make others love Thee — 
then, and then only. The heart helps 
the understanding; cherished truths 
are easily understood. 

Practice, — Seek truth everywhere, 
and in all things. 

Saturday. 

" I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the 
world."— /S^. Matthew xiii. 35. 

Thought, — In heaven only we shall 
understand this revelation in all its 
fulness. Nevertheless, good and up- 
right souls are admitted here on earth 
into the divine secrets. The trials of 
the just, so mysterious to common 
people, so misjudged by weak-minded 
Christians, and so blasphemed by the 
wicked, need only to be seen with the 



EACH DAY OF THE YEAR. 393 

light of faith to be at once under- 
stood. And so it is with a number of 
other mysteries. 

Prayer. — Jesus, of all hidden mys- 
teries the mystery of the Cross is the 
most wonderful. Give me to under- 
stand how and why it is that the 
height of infamy may lead to the 
height of glory ; how excess of suffer- 
ing may produce a fulness of happi- 
ness. 

Practice, — Receive with gratitude 
the lights that faith procures you. 



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